The 50 km long Olduvai Gorge with its steep sides reaching 150m in places is located between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park and represents another spectacular feature of the East African Great Rift Valley.

It is best known as »the Cradle of Mankind«! Dr Louis and his wife Mary Leakey made it famous by the hominid fossil discoveries; in 1959, almost thirty years after their start of searching for human remains, they found the skull and jaw of an ancient species of man that became extinct 1.75 million years ago - Australopithecus Boisei (»southern ape« or more known as a »nutcracker man«). Examples of another two species of hominids have been found at Olduvai, Homo Habilis (»handy man«) and Homo Erectus (»upright man«).

Two of the oldest stone tool traditions, Oldowan and Acheulian, were also found at Olduvai and have played an important part in understanding human evolution. All discoveries were made possible by the volcanic action, shifting of the faults, and erosion processes in the area which exposed geological strata in the Gorge dating back from 1.8 million to 600 thousand years ago.

There are three additional famous palaentological and archaeological sites near Olduvai Gorge: Laetoli site, Lake Ndutu site, Nasera Rock Shelter and Engakura Ruins (the remains of a terraced city and irrigation system). In 1976 Mary Leakey made another revolutionary discovery in Laetoli by discovering fossil footprints, which proved to be 3.6 million years old.

The diversity and richness of the fossil remains, including those of early hominids, has made the Ngorongoro Conservation Area one of the most important areas in the world for research on the evolution of the human species.

Activities
A visit to the informative museum at the visitor centre, Lecture tours, Walking tours within the Gorge; Game viewing and Bird-watching in the near Ngorongoro Crater, Walking safaris/Trekking in the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands, Cultural Tourism (Maasai).

Have a look at our Safari Tours!
And for more photos, take a look at our Photo Gallery!

When to go
All year round.

Accommodation
Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area there are five up-market lodges, a public and a number of special campsites. Additional campsites and middle-range accommodation are available in Karatu town. Daytrips or en-route stops to/from Serengeti National Park can be made from any of the above. Have a look at some of the Safari Accommodation.

Getting there
A drive from Arusha (6h), Lake Manyara or Tarangire (3h).