Starting next week on February 2, the public will begin accessing Nyandungu Eco Tourism Park located in Gasabo District, according to Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). According to officials from the agency, the launch has been organized to coincide with the celebration of the World Wetlands Day which is marked every year on the same date. World Wetlands Day, celebrated with an aim to raise global awareness around the vital role of wetlands for people and the planet. This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The construction of the park started in 2016 and has so far cost $4.5 million of which $2.5 million was contributed by Rwanda Green Fund (Fonerwa). Nestled in the valley between Kimironko and Masoro-Bumbogo Hill in Ndera sector, separating Gasabo and Kicukiro districts, the urban wetland eco-tourism park sits on some 121.7 hectares Over the years, the highly degraded wetland was being used for different activities including agriculture and sand mining among other human activities, which were greatly eroded the ecosystem and thereby posing serious danger for surrounding livelihoods. Inside the Park Stepping into the park, you are first welcomed by well-built gates and pavements made up of natural stones at all entrances. Close by is the information centre where a visitor is oriented into the parks various sections. In addition to a medicinal garden, which showcases indigenous and native plants, it also has Papal Garden-- a name derived from the historic visit by Pope John Paul II to Rwanda in 1990. During his visit 30 years ago, it is at the same place that the Pope read his homily to Rwandans. It was at the time one of the largest open spaces in Kigali that could accommodate large crowds of people who had attended the religious ceremony. It also accommodates various water ponds located in the park named after different lakes in Rwanda including Muhazi, Kivu, Ruhondo and Ihema which provide a comfortable place for visitors to take a break in the midst of the serene natural environment. Since conservation works to restore the area started, birds and the diverse species of butterflies have made the wetland their habitant. Cranes and other bird species are increasing in the wetland and according to the parks management, the site is currently home to more than 70 species of birds. The fig forest around the park also provides a shade for the walkways stretching over eight kilometres and dedicated cycling paths that helps one to easily navigate the park. This means that the visitor can walk, jog or cycle while enjoying the serenity of the natural environment. There are also benches on which visitors can rest and interact as they breathe in the spectacularly clean air. The park is also expected to have gardens for wedding ceremonies and photographs, an observation deck to view and take pictures of bird species as well as an amphitheatre for meetings and events. A café resto has also been built in the area to provide snacks and refreshments to the users of the park. Tour operators welcome the park Frank Gahigi, a tour consultant, says once open to the public, the park could bolster the countrys tourism revenues and help the industry recover from the Covid-19 slump. The city still has few tourist destinations, and Gahigi believes that the Park would increase packages that tour operators offer to both domestic and foreign tourists. He suggests that more features and activities be added to the park to make it more attractive to visitors. The park should also promote and integrate an exhibition of Rwandan culture. There should be many features to beautify the Park. It should include the countrys history and give opportunities to locals, he said. While charges to people visiting the Park are yet to be made official, preliminary projections suggest that it could potentially generate in excess of Rwf1 billion profits in the first 12 years of operation.
