Makoua
A northern Congolese town on the equator, with a monument marking the line.
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Makoua sits almost exactly on the equator in northern Congo, and a monument beside the road marks the line, which makes it one of a small number of places where the crossing is signposted at all. The town is a stop on the road north towards Ouesso through forest and savanna, with a market and a river. Standing with one foot in each hemisphere is the reason most people stop.
What you actually see
- The equator monument - the marker beside the road on the line.
- The crossing - the point where the road passes from one hemisphere to the other.
- The town - the market and settlement around the stop.
- The forest road - the route north towards Ouesso through forest and savanna.
When to go
June to September is the drier season. Rain falls in most months this close to the equator. The road is difficult after heavy rain.
Honest expectations
There is a monument and very little else; twenty minutes covers it. Facilities in the town are basic. The road north is long and rough in stretches.
Nearby
Owando is south, and Ouesso is north.
What to pack for Makoua
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.