Medicinal plant gardens, artificial lakes are part of Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park

By Elias Hakizimana.

The ongoing activities to complete the establishment of  Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park  by 2020 have included medicinal plant gardens.

Elements to be part of Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park , officials say, include ornamental ponds, eastern gallery forests, medicinal plant gardens, paved walk ways, restaurants, information center and other recreational services

The rehabilitation of Nyandungu urban wetland aims to provide urban recreational space, restore the hydrological functioning and increase its biodiversity.

So far, four artificial lakes were created in a bid to protect creatures and increase leisure diversity in the park that sits on 130 hectares of land.

These artificial lakes range from 4393 to 5892 square meters wide and are supplied water from a water stream inside Nyandungu marshland.

Projections indicate that the park should generate over Rwf1bn profit in the first 12 years of operation meaning approximately over Rwf83.3m every year.

The park, according to the designers, must have a network of paths, roads, boardwalks and bridges in marshy areas, toilets, nature viewing areas, bird hides and picnic areas to provide the facilities required by tourists.

There will be trails, kiosks, picnic sites in the restored valley and others.

There will be an area designed for wedding photographs, a concession for a café or restaurant. Furthermore, there will be a visitor centre that will explain the role of wetlands in conservation and the ecosystem services they provide that help support the Rwandan economy

City officials say that the city master plan dedicated 6% to recreational parks.