The Equator Crossing at Kayabwe, on the Kampala-Masaka road about 81 km southwest of the capital, marks the exact line where Uganda straddles the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and has become one of the most photographed roadside stops in the country. A physical monument sits directly on the line, giving travelers a simple, memorable landmark on the route between Kampala and Uganda’s southwestern parks.
The site at a glance
- Located at Kayabwe, on the Kampala-Masaka road, about 81 km southwest of Kampala and 51 km northeast of Masaka
- The equator passes directly through the town in a west-to-east direction
- Marked by monuments where visitors can stand with one foot in each hemisphere
- Surrounded by restaurants and craft shops that have grown up around the crossing point
A simple, popular photo stop
For most travelers, the equator crossing is a brief but enjoyable stop on a longer drive rather than a destination in its own right, offering the novelty of standing on the line separating Earth’s two hemispheres and a chance to buy local crafts or grab a meal at one of the roadside restaurants that cluster around the monument. Vendors at the site sometimes demonstrate simple water-drainage experiments said to show the effect of the hemispheres, a popular, if largely symbolic, photo moment for visitors.
On the route to the southwest
Because Kayabwe sits directly on the main highway between Kampala and Masaka, it is a natural, unavoidable stop for travelers heading toward Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Mgahinga or other southwestern destinations, making it easy to combine with a longer day’s drive rather than requiring a special detour.
Things to do
- Photographing the equator monument, with one foot in each hemisphere
- Shopping for local crafts at the roadside stalls
- Stopping for a meal at one of the restaurants clustered around the crossing
- Breaking up the drive between Kampala and Uganda’s southwestern parks
Practical information
- Located on the main Kampala-Masaka highway, easily reached by any vehicle heading southwest
- A short stop of 15 to 30 minutes is usually enough to see the monument and shop nearby
- Best combined with a longer itinerary toward Lake Mburo, Bwindi or Mgahinga rather than visited alone
The Equator Crossing at Kayabwe offers an easy, memorable stop on the way to Uganda’s southwestern parks. Offmap Safaris can build it into any itinerary heading that direction. To start planning, visit Plan My African Safari, message us on WhatsApp at +256 701 243 304, or email [email protected]. See also our notes on health and safety and responsible travel.