📖 About Ruhengeri

Ruhengeri (now officially Musanze) is a city in northern Rwanda at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. With approximately 100,000 residents, this highland city at 1,850 meters elevation serves as the gateway to Volcanoes National Park—home to endangered mountain gorillas. The name Musanze comes from the local word for the region.

This is where Dian Fossey conducted her legendary gorilla research at the Karisoke Research Center. Today gorilla trekking is Rwanda's premier tourism experience, with permits costing $1,500 per person. The volcanic landscape includes five peaks, lakes, and dramatic scenery. Ruhengeri/Musanze represents Rwanda's remarkable recovery and conservation success—gorilla tourism driving development.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Musanze's economy is increasingly driven by high-end tourism—gorilla trekking generates substantial revenue. Agriculture (potatoes, pyrethrum) remains important in the volcanic soils. Services support tourists and the university. The economy has transformed with Rwanda's development; tourism directly benefits conservation and communities through revenue sharing.

Rwandan culture is present—Kinyarwanda is spoken, Christianity predominates. Traditional practices continue alongside modernization. The genocide's shadow lingers but reconciliation efforts are visible. Food features Rwandan staples—beans, bananas, sweet potatoes. The culture reflects Rwanda's "land of a thousand hills"—beautiful, resilient, and forward-looking despite tragic history.

📜 History

The region was part of the Kingdom of Rwanda. German and then Belgian colonial rule followed. Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in 1967, dedicating her life to gorilla conservation until her murder in 1985. Her story was told in "Gorillas in the Mist."

The 1994 genocide devastated Rwanda; Ruhengeri saw violence. Post-genocide recovery has been remarkable. The government invested in gorilla tourism as economic driver and conservation success. Today Musanze thrives as Rwanda's tourism hub—mountain gorillas, volcanic scenery, and Dian Fossey's legacy attracting visitors to this transformed highland city.