THE KIKORONGO EQUATOR MONUMENT IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK KASESE UGANDA

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THE EQUATOR MONUMENT IN QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK KASESE UGANDA

Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to the newly constructed Kikorongo Equator monument, just located at the edge of the park, about 50m drive from the Kasese Kikorongo-Bwera Mpondwe junction popularly known as Kikorongo.

The development has fastly become one of the popular stopover points that soothes travelers thirst for photos, excitement and fun, and above all, a point to learn about the science significance of the equator through practical demonstrations. With its curated design, The Kikorongo Equator monument has elevated travelers experiences, making it a unique resting point to view the rolling hills of Rwenzori ranges, crater lakes, historical surrounding communities, the vast scenic rift valley plains surrounded by wildlife, hence making it a perfect place where travelers blends with nature, culture and beautiful geography of Uganda’s rich biodiversity during your Uganda exclusive safari.

Why is the New equator Monument special?

Geographical location.

Kikorongo Equator monument standing up in the two hemispheres of the world, offers travelers an exciting moment to stand in both Northern and southern hemispheres at ago. This symbolic experience makes the spot a perfect destination to take memorable safari photos that will leave a lifetime mark on your travel memories into Uganda both by the local and international travelers.

Planet education

At Kikorongo Equator monument is where you can interact with the natures geographical behaviour, science of the earth and its effects ranging from the global warming effects, sun movement, explanations about latitude and why equatorial regions remain warm throughout the year, a significant practical experience encountered whenever you cross from neighboring areas into the Kasese district towards the equator monument location.

Coriolis Effect on water experiments

Here, the local guides often conduct a demonstration on how water drains in the still tank, rotating counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. The behaviour of water during this scientific experiment connects tourists to the earth’s behaviour, not only giving educational underrating but also an excitement that gives an opportunity of understanding how equator influences earth’s magnetic behaviour. Therefore, remember to encounter this favorite experience that is only enjoyed whilst relaxing, stretching your legs after that long drive or game drive experience before connecting to your destination.

Archaic design for photo-shoot

The recent re design of the Kikorongo equator monument is flushed with clean, modern steel arc, polished latitude markings that fully gives an attractive impression of the global map which hence makes it a unique photography striking and memorable. The new design equally blends with the beautiful savannah and back drop of the rift valley escarpment, giving travelers a perfect scenic enjoyable moment

Spacious resting point

While transiting through Queen Elizabeth national park, the new Kikorongo monument boats of spacious ground and clear labels for both hemispheres alongside a small local cultural craft shop. You actually enjoy every minute of your stop while taking photos, learning about the science behind the equator which makes this point enjoyable by all classes of travelers including school children on tours

Filming and photo shoot

Travelers have actually found their destination for perfect filming at this particular point, blessed with wide-open skies, offering opportunity to spot sunset. For those in love to capturing silhouette shots, drone footages if you already acquired permit, the spot is the best as it has perfect lighting which makes it a live point throughout night and day.

This has added another game to the Vloggers, social media travelers and photographers.

What popular activities can be done around the new equator Monument?

Game drive and boat cruise in queen Elizabeth National Park.

The Kikorongo equator Monument being located within the national park is just a few minutes’ drive to connect to Kasenyi plains for your game drive and Kazinga channel for boat cruise. Clients have high chances to enjoy game drives to see the Big4 out of Big5 wildlife in this savannah national park that is approximately 2,000km² in size, hence becoming one of the second largest national park in Uganda.

Salt Mining in Crater Lakes of Katwe and Bunyampaka

Drive shortly for about 20-40 minutes depending on your travel plan and connect to one of Uganda’s traditional salt mining lakes. Here visitors tend to interact with local salt miners, explore how salt mining or extraction is done naturally from waters, and enjoy the scenic views of unique lake landscapes. This rare traditional activity adds a flavour to your safari experience

Bird watching experience

The open plains surrounding equator in Kikorongo region are rich in birdlife where you can spot African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, marabou stork, grey kestrel, bee-eaters, and kingfishers. At the equator monument, bird enthusiasts often relax while taking short walks for nature viewing and taking memorable photos.

Community nature walks and cultural dances

Kikorongo area being home to Bakonzo, Banyabindi and Basongora community offers an opportunity to traveler to interact with community through cultural dance performances, storytelling sessions, craft making, Honey harvesting/tasting and also local food tasting experiences. The stopover point offers visitors with Ugandan traditional life, as clients sleeping in the nearby lodges and hotels easily connects to this popular point.

Sunset photography and scenic view experience

While clients might climb to view points around the escarpments for sweeping views of the savannah below, the views of the sunset here are quiet complete and dramatic, painted with the reddish golden sky that makes the equator experience magical.

Rwenzori Mountains national park Hiking.

Kikorongo Equator monument located away about 48km drive to the park main gate is a popular stopover point that allows travelers to rewind, stretch, relax and enjoy the monument tower and breathe the warm air mixing with cold breathe from the Kikorongo lakes and thicket cover in the savannah national park before embarking on your journey the Rwenzori national park for the hiking experience.

Cycling across the equator.

This is a bucket-list experience for travelers traversing between the northern and southern hemispheres within the queen Elizabeth national park.

Cycling across the Kikorongo equator monument in Kasese_Uganda offers a unique, scenic and spectacular views of the plains of the savannah and rift valley plains lying the foothills of the Rwenzori mountains national park.

The Kikorongo Equator monument is located 22km drive from the Kasese Mbarara roundabout, hence making it a convenient ride for cyclers intending to stretch their legs, awaken their bodies from the long drives from either Entebbe, Kampala or Kidepo-Murchison falls national park or Bwindi-Mgahinga national parks. Don’t plan to miss this especially the cycling enthusiasts.

Where else can I see the Equator Monument in Uganda?

Kayabwe Equator along Kampala-Masaka Road.

Kayabwe equator monument located about 117km drive from Entebbe international airport is an iconic busiest equator point in Uganda. The spot is popular stopover for travelers connecting to Lake Mburo, Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks in southern part of Uganda and Queen Elizabeth national park in western part of Uganda. It’s famous for its souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, equator demonstration experiments, where its bold erection arcs give it the best artistic impression for photo shoot moment as you’re travelling from or heading to Masaka-Mbarara and far destinations in west or southern end of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo

Ishongororo Equator Point in Ibanda District

The land mark being a quiet and more of rural version of the equator monument, is located in Ishongororo western part of Uganda along the Mbarara-Ibanda road. Surrounded by peaceful environment offers travelers to reconnect with the open countryside views and community experience as your heading to various parts of the country to explore Lake Mburo, Kibale national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, and crater lakes exploration in fort-portal.

Lake Victoria Equator Crossing (Ssese Islands)

The equator line cuts across Lake Victoria, where visitors connecting to Ssese Islands by boat usually cross this invisible line on the majestic water body. Seasoned boat captains will point out to the crossing point for guests to enjoy the photo and video capturing moments. This unique geographical feature existing on the largest east African fresh water is worthy refreshing as you see the world dividing into two hemispheres as you cross from one another to the other while on a Ugandan wildlife and cultural safari.

What is the best time to visit Uganda for a wildlife safari?

Uganda is a year-round destination, however, the best safari experiences occur during the dry seasons when the wildlife is easier to see as well as the roads remaining passable or in good conditions for driving through. The first dry season runs from December to February characterized by warm temperatures, clear skies, and excellent game viewing in parks like Queen Elizabeth national park, Lake Mburo, Murchison falls, Kidepo national parks and Rwenzori national parks.

The other season runs between June and September which is often considered the peak safari period, where travelers meet the open savannahs with animals gathering in the shorter grasses, gathering at water channels and above all, the weather remains perfect for photography with roads being less slippery.

The two seasons are perfect ideal for mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking as he trails remain a bit dry for trekking activities.