A Green Sanctuary in the Heart of Kigali
Nestled between the busy roads of Kigali’s Remera and Ndera sectors, Nyandungu Ecopark feels like another world. The air is cleaner here, softer somehow. The city noise fades into the rustle of papyrus and the slow chirping of birds, and the only traffic comes from walkers and cyclists tracing the park’s winding trails. Yet this quiet stretch of restored wetland represents something far larger than a weekend escape. Nyandungu Ecopark is turning out to be the clearest expression of Rwanda’s vision to build cities that breathe, urban environments designed not just for movement and commerce but also for health, climate resilience, and human well-being.
Under the Kigali City Master Plan and Vision 2050, Rwanda aims to dedicate at least 25 percent of Kigali’s surface area to green space, part of a broader national push to integrate ecological restoration and public health. Nyandungu, officially opened in 2022, is the first fully developed urban wetland ecopark in the country, a living demonstration of how environmental planning can directly support physical and mental health.
Healing by Design
When you walk through Nyandungungu, the first thing that stands out is how deliberately it has been designed to promote calm and movement in equal measure. There are ten kilometers of walking and cycling tracks, shaded benches tucked into quiet corners, birdwatching decks, and a medicinal garden featuring more than 70 indigenous plant species once used in traditional healing. “These are not random details,” said Ildephonse Kambogo, who oversees operations at the park. “A visit to Nyandungu is itself linked to mental and physical well-being. When people come here, they breathe clean air, they walk or run, they learn about biodiversity, and they find peace away from the city’s noise. It’s a healing place.”
The park is a result of years of collaboration between the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the Ministry of Environment, and partners including the Green Climate Fund and the European Union. What was once a degraded, flood-prone wetland choked by waste and informal farming has been transformed into a 121-hectare green sanctuary balancing conservation, recreation, and education.
Reviving Indigenous Plants
Nyandungu Ecopark in Kigali hosts several indigenous medicinal trees that reflect Rwanda’s rich tradition of natural healing. Among them are Kigelia africana (Umuvungavungo), the sausage tree, whose fruits and bark are traditionally used to treat skin problems and wounds; Ficus ovata (Umurehe), a fig tree whose bark and roots serve in remedies for digestive and respiratory issues; and Markhamia lutea (Umusave), valued both for timber and for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
These species are carefully arranged within the park’s medicinal garden, a space designed to preserve indigenous plant knowledge while offering visitors an opportunity to learn, engage, and reflect. By combining education, conservation, and wellness, the garden not only showcases Rwanda’s botanical heritage but also supports the broader goal of mental and physical well-being.
A Sanctuary for Mental Health
“When you walk here, you don’t just see trees, you start listening to yourself,” Kambogo said. “We’ve seen visitors come just to find a private corner to sit and think. Some meditate for hours, and when they leave, they tell us, ‘I feel lighter, calmer, better.’” He recalls visitors who request more private sitting areas for meditation and reflection. The park has responded by training guides to help visitors understand the cultural and historical significance of different trees and plants, many of which carry symbolic meaning in Rwandan tradition.
Accessibility and Inclusion
While Nyandungu’s terrain is largely natural, the park’s management has paid close attention to accessibility. Some trails have gentle slopes and smooth surfaces suitable for wheelchairs or buggies. “For visitors who can’t walk or bike, we’ve introduced electric buggies so they can still explore comfortably,” Kambogo said. “We also have guides who assist people with mobility challenges so that everyone can enjoy the park equally.” He added that Nyandungu is in the process of introducing a first aid and wellness room for visitors who may experience fatigue, dizziness, or other mild health issues.
Prescribing Nature
Urban green spaces have long been valued for recreation, but doctors in Kigali are increasingly recognizing them as legitimate tools for public health. According to Dr. Concorde Ishimwe, Chief Medical Officer at Muhima Hospital, activities like walking and cycling in green environments have measurable health benefits. “For patients with chronic diseases—those who live with conditions like hypertension or diabetes—regular walking is essential,” he said. “But walking in nature adds something extra. It helps lower stress hormones, improves blood circulation, and strengthens the immune system.”
The Psychology of Green Space
Psychotherapist Leocadia Kabibi Nkusi from the Never Again Rwanda Wellness Centre takes it a step further. For her, walking in nature is not just a healthy habit, it’s a form of therapy with deep psychological roots. “I often recommend nature walks to my clients,” she said. “It’s part of what we call mindful walking. You go into nature, slow down, and let your senses open. You feel the ground under your feet, the air on your skin, the sound of birds. It reconnects you to the present moment.”
A Growing Network of Healing Landscapes
Nyandungu is not an isolated experiment. Rwanda’s environmental authorities are already planning similar ecoparks and wetland restorations in other districts, following the same philosophy: restore nature, restore health. According to the Ministry of Environment and the City of Kigali, ongoing plans include developing ecological parks in Gikondo, Kibumba, and Rwampara wetlands, turning them into community green zones that combine biodiversity protection with recreation and education.
Stories from the Trails
For many visitors, Nyandungu has already become a personal refuge. Some come in groups to jog or cycle before work. Others, like older residents from nearby suburbs, prefer slow evening walks among reeds and water lilies. “I never used to have a quiet and environmentally safe place to walk but when Nyandungu came, I now have at least three times a week of visiting this place to walk, meditate and heal,” says Noel Mukiza, a 65-year-old retiree who has turned the ecopark into a personal space to recharge and stay strong.
Nature as Preventive Medicine
Globally, the idea of prescribing nature is gaining traction. In countries like Japan, the practice of Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing is used as an official public health intervention. Research shows that spending time in green environments lowers cortisol levels, reduces heart rate, and boosts mood-regulating neurotransmitters. In Rwanda, the cultural connection to land and nature runs deep. By restoring spaces like Nyandungu, the government is not only reviving ecosystems but also reawakening that connection in a modern urban context.
A Green Future Ahead
With construction of the new visitor centre underway and plans for expanded walking trails and medical support areas, Nyandungu is evolving from a conservation project into a prototype for urban wellness design. Rwanda’s commitment to developing a network of ecoparks across the country will not only enhance climate resilience but also provide safe, inclusive, and restorative spaces for its citizens. As Kambogo put it, “Nyandungu started as an environmental project, but it’s becoming a healing destination. When people come here, they find peace, they breathe differently, they leave lighter. That’s how we know it’s working.”
