Nyandungu Ecotourism Park is a 121-hectare Rwandan tourism destination situated between the Gasabo and Kicukiro Districts. The Nyandungu Eco-Park is the first public recreational and touristic facility of its kind in Kigali. The creation of Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park is aimed at restoring urban ecosystems and serves as a blueprint for other wetlands in Kigali and Rwanda at large.

The park allows visitors to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the Nyandungu Valley in a sustainable manner. The restoration of the Nyandungu wetland and creation of an eco – tourism park saw the planting of 17,000 trees made up of 55 indigenous species. The park features a medicinal garden, a Pope’s Garden, five catchment ponds, three recreation ponds, an information centre, a restaurant as well as 10km of walkways and bike lanes. The park opened up on 8 July 2022 making it the first of its kind educational and recreational park in Kigali, Rwanda. It plays an important part in preventing flooding and reducing pollution.

The opening of Nyandungu Ecotourism Park represents the single largest addition to public green space in Kigali in the city’s history. The Nyandungu Eco-tourism Park offers an opportunity for residents and guests to Kigali city to explore and experience more about nature while in the city. It is part of the country’s efforts to harness eco – tourism to restore biodiversity and conserve urban wetland systems.

Nyandungu eco – park is comprised of a 50-hectare forest, 62 species of local plants, and 100 bird species. Restoring the Nyandungu wetland to an eco – tourism center demonstrates Rwanda’s commitment to environmental protection. The Nyandungu eco – park is a unique and important resource for sustainable tours in Rwanda.

The park is great for weekend family outings as the young ones can also learn a lot about the nature and birds. The biking trails provide a wonderful cycling adventure around the park. Bikes are also available at the park for hire. Children’s activities such as painting competitions are often organized by the park.

This park offers visitors the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the area, learn about its environmental importance and make positive contribution to local communities. It provides educational experience for both locals and tourists.

Nyandungu Ecotourism Park.

I visited the Nyandungu Eco-tourism and recreational park on the hottest days December 2022 together with Nature Adventure Africa Safaris. Upon the arrival, I was first impressed by well-built gates and pavements made up of natural stones at all entrances. Close by is the information Centre where the visitor is taken through registration. A few minutes into my walk, I saw a young woman carrying a backpack, earphones plugged, visibly enjoying her day, surely, I must say this kind of place is where people can come to meditate and relax. I also saw children riding bicycles, playing under the watchful eyes of their parents.

I also observed various water ponds located in the park which provide a comfortable place for visitors to take a health break amidst the serene natural environment. The park is piled high with different tree species which according to environment play a key role in minimizing floods which have been prevalent in the area.

If you are a bird lover, the park is home to some few Cranes and other bird species which are increasing in the wetland and according to the park management, the site is currently home to more than 70 bird species. The park welcomes both local and international tourists to create wonderful memories in this new biodiversity hot spot in Kigali. The fig forest around the park also provides shade for the walkways and dedicated cycling paths that helps one to easily navigate the diverse park. Visitors can walk, jog or cycle while enjoying the serenity of natural environment.

Besides the picnic sites, cycling and walking lanes, the eco park has a restaurant that looks like stone cottage which offers snacks and refreshments to the visitors. The restaurant’s meals are really delicious I tasted them.

‘’Truthfully, I didn’t expect such amazing place like this before, with this fresh air that differentiates it from other places, its worthy to visit for relaxation.’’ The park really provides the beauty of Rwanda that promotes tourism. After experiencing the Nyandungu Ecotourism Park in Kigali you can add-on more experiences in Rwanda.

Enjoy the Rwanda Gorilla and Golden Monkey Safari – on this Rwanda safari, you can choose to go for a 3 days enjoyment. This is a 3-day Rwanda Gorilla and Golden Monkey safari will be conducted only to trek primates in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and to have a city tour in Kigali in places such as visiting Genocide museums in Kigali to pay tribute to the more than 1, 000,000 people who lost their lives during the genocide of the 1990s.

On this safari, you will be to come face to face with gorillas as they feed, play, rest and bond with their young ones. You will also view the awesome scenic features of the volcanic landscapes plus listening to heartrending accounts of the astonishing genocide that occurred in Rwanda in the late 1990s.

Upon arrival in Rwanda, you will meet up with our company representative (guide/driver), get briefed and start this primate safari Rwanda by touring the city of Kigali during which you will visit the Genocide memorial sites where more than one million people lost their lives during the genocide of the 1990s in Rwanda and listen to the horrific story of how people were cruelly put killed.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial commemorates the 1990s Rwandan genocide. The remains of about one million people are interred there. There is a visitor centre for students and others wishing to understand the events leading up to the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1990s.

The Kigali Genocide is a permanent memorial to those who fell victim to the genocide and serves as a place where the bereaved could bury their family and friends. The Centre is managed and run by the Aegis Trust on behalf of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide.

Visitors to the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds can also visit the library which houses all of the Genocide archives as well as a café and gift shop. You can also visit the beautiful and quiet gardens that provide a very quiet ambiance for visitors to reflect on the Genocide against the Tutsi and pay respect to the lost lives. You will have your lunch at any restaurant near the genocide center.

After visiting the genocide center, you will later transfer to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda and check in at your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation options include Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorillas’ Nest lodge, Sabyinyo Silver back Lodge, Muhabura hotel, Villa Gorilla Hotel, Kinigi guest house among others.

On your second of primate safari, you will have your breakfast and transfer to the park’s headquarters for a briefing on the rules to be observed during gorilla trekking. You will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and guides will lead you to the forest to start the search. The trekking process may take about 2–5-hour exercise and upon sighting the Gorillas you will spend one hour with them watching how they do their lifestyle activities such as feeding, playing among other activities. In that one hour your allowed to take pictures and videos to create unforgettable memories.

After spending an awesome time with these primates in their natural habitat, you will trek back to the park’s headquarters where you will meet your driver to transfer you back the for late lunch and spend the remaining hours relaxing at the hotel as your waiting for dinner. On the 3^rd day after having your breakfast, you will go for golden monkey trekking still in Volcanoes National Park where you trekked gorillas the previous day. Golden monkeys have a very unique characters and they can easily be identified the color. There are two troops of golden monkeys in Rwanda and the largest troop is found in Mount Sabyinyo.

The gorilla trek will start with a briefing at the park’s headquarters and then set off into the forest to start searching for them. Upon seeing them, you will take them some pictures and then be driven back to the hotel for lunch. After lunch, you will check-out at the hotel and then transfer to Kigali International Airport to catch up with your flight and that will be the end of your 3 days primate safari in Volcanoes National Park.