Following its restoration, Nyandungu Eco-Park welcomed 111,710 visitors in 2025, up from 48,813 in 2022, according to the park manager, Ildephonse Kambogo. Over the same period, the number of bird species recorded in the park increased from 83 to 251, while plant species rose from 260 to 468. ALSO READ: VIDEO & PHOTOS: Inside Kigali Wetlands Park Despite this growth, Kambogo said the park still offers significant untapped investment opportunities. The next phase of development unlocks significant commercial potential through carefully designed, low-impact investments that complement conservation while generating sustainable financial returns. We invite potential investors to invest in Nyandungu, he said. He outlined several projects available for private investment. 1. Eco-lodge or eco-cabins Kambogo said the park could accommodate a 16- to 24-room eco-lodge or a cluster of eco-cabins without compromising its natural environment. ALSO READ: Nyandungu Eco-Park to expand cycling trails The accommodation would be built using sustainable materials, powered by renewable energy and located just minutes from Kigali International Airport. He said a restaurant serving locally sourced farm-to-fork meals would further enhance the visitor experience. ALSO READ: Nyandungu Eco-Park recorded over 76,000 visitors in 2024 Any lodge built here would draw on a guest list that already exists: international leisure travellers passing through Kigali, conference delegates extending their stay, domestic visitors seeking a weekend escape, and birdwatchers planning trips around a single morning or afternoon in the park. They would simply need somewhere to stay once they arrived, he said. 2. Nature-based wellness centre Kambogo said the park already has the natural resources needed to support a wellness centre based on indigenous herbs. ALSO READ: How Rwanda is faring in wetlands restoration The herbs used in a nature therapy programme are already growing on site. So too are the tranquillity, shade from native trees and the calming effect of water. Global tourism demand has shifted towards sustainability, authentic experiences, wellness, nature, adventure and climate resilience, he said. 3. Outdoor adventure and sports hub While cyclists and runners already use the park's trails, Kambogo said the recreational offering could be expanded. He proposed outdoor fitness stations, team-building facilities, nature obstacle courses, calisthenics, volleyball, basketball and mini-football, saying the additions would attract families, schools, corporate groups and tourists while creating year-round revenue opportunities. 4. Fly fishing experience The park is also considering introducing fly fishing, allowing visitors to catch fish before enjoying them as a meal—an attraction Kambogo said would be unique in urban Rwanda. Fly fishing uses lightweight artificial flies that imitate insects naturally eaten by fish. ALSO READ: Is Gikondo recreational park finally coming to life? Supported by ecological management and environmental education, fly fishing has become both a premium tourism product and a conservation awareness tool, he said. 5. Conservatory or eco-event venue Kambogo said the park could also host weddings and other events beneath its mature tree canopy, offering a distinctive setting shaped by ecological restoration. Nyandungu Eco-Park represents more than a tourism investment. It is an opportunity to demonstrate how restored ecosystems can become engines of economic growth, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, community wellbeing and sustainable tourism, he said. He added that the park filters and stores water, reduces downstream flooding, captures carbon and helps cool a rapidly expanding part of Kigali. The park currently spans 121 hectares, comprising 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest. It is set to expand by another 43 hectares, while its cycling and walking trails will increase from 10 kilometres to 15 kilometres. Kigali Wetlands Park investment opportunities Beyond Nyandungu Eco-Park, rehabilitation of five other wetlands in Kigali is more than 90 per cent complete, paving the way for the Kigali Wetlands Park, which is expected to generate significant eco-tourism revenue. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has invited interested firms to bid for the management, financing, operation and commercial development of the park. The 491-hectare project comprises Nyabugogo (131 hectares), Kibumba (68 hectares), Rugenge-Rwintare (65 hectares), Rwampara (65 hectares) and Gikondo (162 hectares). The restored wetlands are expected to provide flood mitigation, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, regenerate landscapes and offer 61.5 kilometres of walking and cycling trails. Planned developments include restaurants, cafés, retail outlets, wellness centres, event spaces, parking facilities, sports fields, botanical gardens, fishing areas, children's recreation facilities and cooking schools. Nyabugogo Wetland will feature a central lake, vegetated islands, transport connections and recreational amenities, including kayaking, lakeside restaurants, food trucks and kiosks. Gikondo Wetland will include restaurants, retail outlets, event spaces, environmental education facilities, a botanical garden, sports fields, parking and public amenities. Rugenge-Rwintare Wetland is planned to host a zipline, food and beverage outlets, event spaces, pond-side attractions, a knowledge hub and parking facilities. Rwampara Wetland will feature a cultural centre with a restaurant, creative workshops, event spaces and food and beverage outlets near the sports fields and Cercle Sportif de Kigali.
