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Hot air balloon safari
Come and experience one of the best and rare ways to watch the wildlife from different directions
The Uganda Equator Experience: An Outstanding Landmark
Witness the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle across 14,763 km² of open savannah — Without a doubt, this park is Uganda’s crown jewel.
Best time to visit
Jun-sept
Minimum stay
4-5 days
Top Sightings
Kayabwe Equator, Kikorongo Equator & Craft shops
Distance from Capital
329 Kms2
Location
Mpigi district & Kasese district
Best for
Family, Solo Travelers & Friends
The Uganda Equator Experience: An Outstanding Landmark.
In the heart of Uganda, there lies one of the most beautiful, interesting, and rare attractions, and this iconic landmark monument is famously known as the Equator. Uganda is one of the 13 countries in the world through which the Equator line passes. Therefore, Uganda being in those few areas with the Equator passing through it signifies that Uganda lies in the two hemispheres of the world, i.e one part located in the Southern Hemisphere and another one located in the Northern Hemisphere
The Equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two hemispheres, namely the Southern Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere. This designated point is located in the western region of Uganda in Mpigi District, Kayabwe town. The Equator crosses through Uganda from West to East while spanning numerous Ugandan districts.
The Equator landmark monument at Kayabwe is considered the most popular Equator point because it crosses the Kampala-Masaka highway. This spot is also extremely popular because it has become the iconic stop for photos, coffee, and souvenirs for most tourists and travellers who are heading to the west and passing by this area.
What is an Equator?
The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two equal sections, which are the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The equator landmark at Kayabwe is an outstanding monument that shows you that you are crossing the equator and lets you stand on both sides of the world at the same time, with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere.
However, while standing at the equator, your body weight is reduced by a percentage 3%, which means you weigh less, and this is due to the fact that there is no gravitational pull.
An imaginary line dividing the Earth into two hemispheres.
The Equator Safari activities
COMBINE 01
Community tourism
Community tourism is one of the most interesting things you can have mostly the batwa culture
COMBINE 01
Bird watching safaris
What do you know about Uganda birding, what birds do you know in Uganda birding
Activities to do at the Uganda Equator
Water Experiment
At the equator, you get to see water drainage differences. The movement and drainage of the water differ on both sides of the Earth; that is, the northern and the southern hemispheres at the Equator line in the demonstration of the Coriolis effect. At the equator, showmanship is used to stimulate the water drainage effect. While in the northern hemisphere, the water will drain down the hole in a clockwise direction, yet it takes an anti-clockwise direction as it drains from the southern hemisphere down the hole.
Water experiment at the Equator in Kayabwe town
Another demonstration to watch is by a local in the area on how water swirls in the opposite directions in the northern & southern hemispheres at the equator line. The other equator landmarks are located in Kasese district in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a rather outstanding experience is at Kayabwe town in Mpigi district.
Restaurant, Refreshment & Souvenir Shops
Along the Equator in Kayabwe town, numerous shops are always open, and these craft shops sell different authentic African craft materials such as African attire, wall frames, decoration materials, and fabrics for your souvenir shopping. Kayabwe town is a good place to stopover for breakfast and lunch because this town has unique restaurants with classic meal preferences that can assist you while embarking on a long upcountry journey, as well as clean-kept washrooms for refreshment.
Crafts shops
Lightweight experiment
Can you really weigh less along the equator line?
Yes, you can weigh less by 3 % at the equator line, and this is because weight is a force with which gravity acts on a mass, and along the equator line, your weight is less by 0.5%; thus, gravity is 0.5 % less at the Equator.
Stand in Two Worlds at once experiment.
In the western region of Uganda, Mpigi District, Kayabwe Town, along the imaginary line of the equator, it is possible for you to stand with one of your feet in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere at this very point, which is an awe-inspiring experience to stand on both sides of the world. Also, the sun rises and sets rather quickly at the equator, and the people around the area experience only warm temperatures and tropical climates throughout the year, as well as equal lengths of day and night, and from this point it’s so hard to tell the difference between the seasons.
Photography
Photography is one of the leading activities at the Uganda Equator landmark in Kayabwe, and you can take frequent photographic memories, which is a great way to keep memories of Uganda safaris from the site.
You can take photos while hugging, lying, or sitting at the Equator point.
Take lifetime Photos at the Equator landmark.
Selected The Equator Sightings & Attractions
Uganda Kob
Warthogs
Uganda Equator
Zebra
Which Lakes in Uganda are crossed by the equator?
In Uganda, the equator crosses through 2 lakes which are Lake Victoria and Lake Edward. Lake Edward is located in the western region of Uganda, while Lake Victoria is Africa’s biggest lake, as well as the source of the Nile, and it spans across the Central region and Eastern regions of Uganda.
How to get to the Uganda Equator?
The Uganda equator landmark is located in Kayabwe town in Mpigi district alongside the Masaka-Mbarara highway and a road transfer from Kampala to Kayabwe is possibly the best way to reach the equator landmark which can take approximately 1 hr and 30 minutes to access at a distance of 72 km.
Uganda Equator in Kayabwe Town
Selected The Equator Safari Packages
6 Days
Private
6-Days Murchison Falls & Queen Elizabeth Safari with Big 5 Sightseeing
from
$ 1350
per person
3 Days
Private
3 Days Christmas Holiday Safari in Uganda (Lake Mburo)
from
$ 640
per person
What other countries are crossed by the equator?
Across the whole world, the equator crosses through a total of 13 countries which are in South America, Africa, and Asia. Countries crossed by the equator include.
- Ecuador
- Columbia
- Brazil
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Gabon
- Congo (Brazzaville)
- D.R. Congo
- Kiribati
- Kenya
- Somalia
- Maldives
- Indonesia
- Uganda
After an in-depth of Uganda’s outstanding landmark – the Equator, Uganda is not only a home for the remarkable equator landmark in Kayabwe town-Mpigi district but also offers numerous awe-inspiring wildlife sighting in many national parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Murchison Falls National Park among others. Visit Uganda with friendly Gorillas Safaris today!
The Equator in Summary
Best Attractions
Kayabwe Equator, Kikorongo Equator & Craft shops
Best time to visit
Jun-sept
Best Attractions
Wildlife, river scenery and game drives
Top activities
Coriolis effect, Craft shopping & road side dining
How to Get there.
The two equator monuments can easily be accessed by road where its only 81 km to Kayabwe and 420 km to Kikorongo. The kikorongo Equator can be accessed by air by booking a chartered flight from Entebbe international airport or kajjansi air strip to kasese for about two hours
Recommended duration
Fault free safari motel (Budget), Equator lodge (Standard), & Equator snow Lodge (Luxury)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an Equator and an Equator landmark?
The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two equal sections, which are the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This is a latitude marked 0 degrees amongst all the latitudes. The equator is an imaginary line that runs from East to west and divides the Earth into two equal proportions. The vegetation and temperatures in the two tropics ie the Southern hemisphere and the Northern hemisphere are very different and it normally becomes hotter on the equator.
Whereas:
An Equator landmark is an outstanding structural monument that shows you are crossing the equator and lets you stand on both sides of the world at the same time, with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. This is a significant feature because it gives visitors a different feeling. These landmarks are common at the Kayabwe equator monument and the Kikorongo equator monument.
Where are the Uganda Equator landmarks located?
Uganda is a very interesting area with two landmarks that are very significant and these two land marks are very important destination points for visitors for photography. These two different areas with the landmarks in Uganda are located in the areas of Kasese District in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the place is known as the Kikorongo area, and another rather outstanding experience is at Kayabwe town in Mpigi District.
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We only work with knowledgeable guides who value wildlife, safety, hospitality and meaningful guest experiences.
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You receive personal support from start to finish. Before arrival and reliable assistance throughout your safari.
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Low Season
Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, may
Peak Season
Jun, July, Aug, Sept, Dec
Recommended Stay
Buhoma Gorilla Camp,
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