Nyandungu Eco Park

Nyandungu was a degraded wetland on the eastern edge of Kigali that had been dumped on and drained for years, and between 2016 and 2022 it was restored: ponds reopened, some sixty thousand trees planted, and paths and cycle routes laid through it. It now runs for about ten kilometres of trail through wetland, a medicinal plant garden and a pollinator garden, and birdlife has returned in numbers. It is the clearest example of what Kigali's environmental policy actually looks like.

What you actually see

• The restored wetland - ponds and marsh reopened after decades of degradation.
• The trails - around ten kilometres of walking and cycling paths.
• The birdlife - species that have returned since the restoration.
• The medicinal garden - a planted section of traditional medicinal species.

When to go

Year round; the park keeps daily hours. Early morning is best for birds and coolest for cycling. Afternoon rain is common from March to May and October to November.

Honest expectations

It is a restored urban park rather than wilderness and the city is audible throughout. Bike hire is limited and can run out at weekends. Some sections are still establishing and the planting is young.

Nearby

Kimironko market is nearby, and central Kigali is west.