Many of the destinations associated with relaxation and leisure are located outside the capital, meaning visitors have to plan their trips, leave early and think about how they will get back home.

For some, the journey itself can become tiring, taking away from the very experience they were seeking.

But a new luxury destination on Mount Kigali is offering a different option: an opportunity to escape the city's bustle without actually leaving Kigali.

Located in the forests of Mount Kigali, Jungle Park is a luxury fine-dining restaurant and recreational space that combines food, entertainment, nature and relaxation.

Its elevated location offers expansive views of Kigali, while the surrounding greenery provides a setting far removed from the city's busy streets.

An escape without leaving Kigali

One of Jungle Park's defining features is its location.

Unlike many restaurants and entertainment venues concentrated in Kigali's busy urban areas, the destination sits high on Mount Kigali, surrounded by trees and nature.

According to Jungle Park's Founder, Laurent Urimubenshi, the location was deliberately chosen to give visitors an opportunity to disconnect from the city.

“By choosing this location, the intention was actually to provide people with an escape from the city,” he said.

While its location might initially appear far from the city centre, Urimubenshi said visitors have been willing to make the journey to experience what Jungle Park offers.

He explained that the name Jungle Park was chosen to reflect the environment in which the destination is located and the experience the business seeks to create.

“Being located in or near the forest adds value to what we want to create and provide. We want to offer our clients and guests a unique, high-quality experience, from our service and food to the location itself,” he remarked.

Jungle Park can accommodate more than 300 guests at a time, making it suitable for both individual visitors and larger gatherings.

But Urimubenshi said the destination is designed to offer more than food.

“It's more of a retreat,” he said. “For example, on our Sunday brunch and our live barbecue on Saturdays, people don't come here just to eat because it's not about the food. It's about a retreat. It's about going somewhere close to the city where you would have that experience.”

Fine dining meets recreation

Food is central to the Jungle Park experience, with barbecue among the offerings that have proved particularly popular with customers.

In response to that demand, the restaurant recently introduced a live barbecue every Saturday from 10 a.m., combining grilled food with live music and other activities.

“People come, they enjoy live barbecue and live music,” Urimubenshi revealed, describing the Saturday programme as a full-day experience.

Jungle Park also hosts a Sunday brunch running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving visitors access to a range of recreational activities alongside their meals.

Guests can swim for free, play traditional games and spend time relaxing in the natural surroundings.

“People come here to enjoy free swimming and traditional games. We have all of that here,” Urimubenshi noted.

He said the combination of brunch, swimming and traditional games is intended to create a relaxed Sunday experience for visitors.

“People come, they enjoy those traditional games while on brunch, swimming, providing that relaxation and staycation on Sundays,” he said.

Hospitality with a conservation focus

Jungle Park's natural surroundings are not simply part of its aesthetic. The business has also incorporated environmental conservation into its operations.
According to Urimubenshi, the destination has planted indigenous trees protected under Rwanda's environmental conservation policies.

“When you look around here, the trees we plant are not just any part of the tree. It comes from the policy, from the laws,” he said.

Urimubenshi said the approach allows the business to contribute to environmental conservation while also supporting the country's hospitality sector.

“We really like it when we say we are doing a business, yes, but also we are contributing to the country's effort for conservation,” he added.

A new addition to Kigali's leisure scene

Jungle Park opened in May 2026, and Urimubenshi said it has received an encouraging response from customers while using their feedback to improve its services.

“Within this short period, we’ve received a warm welcome and a lot of encouragement from our guests. We’ve also been learning from our shortcomings and improving day after day,” the founder stated.

For visitors, part of the experience begins before they even arrive.

The drive up Mount Kigali takes them away from the city's increasingly busy streets and towards a setting surrounded by trees and panoramic views.

At Jungle Park, the journey becomes part of the getaway itself, offering Kigali residents and visitors a chance to enjoy fine dining, recreation and nature without having to travel outside the capital.

As Urimubenshi puts it, the destination is ultimately about more than a meal.

It is about creating a retreat close enough to the city to remain accessible, yet far enough from its noise to feel like an escape.