As Rwanda continues implementing land use master plans across the country, Nyamagabe District recently approved a detailed land use plan for the Kitabi area bordering Nyungwe National Park. The plan reserves a 10-hectare site specifically for hotel development.
The Kitabi Tourism Zone was officially approved and announced during the Cabinet meeting of November 28, 2025, when the Nyamagabe District Master Plan was adopted.
The initiative is regarded as a major step toward promoting nature-based tourism and attracting private investment to Nyamagabe District, home to one of Rwanda's most important tourism destinations.
Despite its proximity to Nyungwe National Park, Nyamagabe has long lacked quality accommodation facilities. Most visitors touring the area have traditionally opted to spend the night in Huye District or other neighboring towns due to the limited hotel infrastructure in Nyamagabe, reducing the district's ability to fully benefit from tourism.
Nyamagabe District Mayor Hildebrand Niyomwungeri said the newly approved master plan officially identifies Kitabi as a hotel development zone and is expected to transform the area by encouraging tourists to stay longer and spend more in the district.
'This will attract investors to build hotels in Kitabi so that visitors entering or leaving Nyungwe National Park can find quality accommodation and places to relax. It will also generate more revenue,' he said.
He added that although no concrete projects have yet been announced, several investors have already expressed interest in the area.
Yves Maniragaba, a tour guide at Nyungwe National Park, said the development is expected to significantly strengthen tourism in Nyamagabe.
'It will increase tourism infrastructure, especially hotels, which will attract more visitors. It will also create jobs, add value to local handicrafts and agricultural products, and encourage healthy competition among hotels that will ultimately improve the quality of services offered to tourists,' he said.
Biodiversity researcher and tourism expert Dr. Ange Imanishimwe, whose work focuses on Nyungwe National Park, told IGIHE that approving the master plan should be accompanied by investments in new tourism attractions within the park itself.
He noted that tourism development efforts around Nyungwe have so far been concentrated largely in Nyamasheke District, while other districts bordering the park, including Nyamagabe, have received comparatively less attention.
'There is still a need to strengthen tourism development on the eastern side of Nyungwe, particularly in Nyamagabe at the park's entrance. Most visitors to Nyungwe travel from Kigali, but many head straight to Gisakura in Nyamasheke because tourism facilities there are more developed,' he said.
Kitabi is considered one of the areas with strong tourism potential because of its strategic location near Nyungwe National Park, one of Rwanda's premier protected areas. The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including numerous bird and wildlife species, as well as attractions such as the Canopy Walkway and an extensive network of hiking trails that draw visitors from around the world.
Nyungwe National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023. Covering approximately 101,900 hectares, the park is home to 322 bird species, around 200 orchid species, more than 300 butterfly species and a wide variety of other flora and fauna, making it a vital driver of tourism and economic opportunities for surrounding communities.
