Cradle of Mankind
Fossils and tools that changed our understanding of human origins.
Tanzania Historical Sites
Olduvai Gorge
One of the most important archaeological sites on Earth, Olduvai Gorge holds a remarkable record of human evolution, between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
- Location
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Known For
- Cradle of mankind
- Record
- 2 million years of evolution
- Experience
- Museum & gorge visit
Discover Olduvai Gorge
Where the human story begins.
Olduvai Gorge is one of the most important archaeological sites on Earth. It holds a remarkable record of animal and human evolution from about 2 million to 15,000 years ago, including a wide range of stone tools, thousands of animal fossils, both extinct and living species, and the fossil bones of early hominids and early Homo sapiens.
Nearby at Laetoli, three separate tracks of small-brained, upright-walking early hominids were miraculously preserved in muddy volcanic ash, hardened by the sun some 3.6 million years ago. Together, Olduvai and Laetoli are known as the cradle of mankind.
Why Olduvai
A journey back through time.
Olduvai adds a fascinating human story to any northern circuit safari.
Olduvai Museum
A museum overlooking the gorge, with fossils, casts and exhibits.
Laetoli Footprints
Casts of 3.6-million-year-old hominin footprints preserved in volcanic ash.
On the Safari Route
Located between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, easy to include in a safari.
Location
Where is Olduvai Gorge?
Olduvai Gorge lies in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the road between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. The museum is a short detour from the main road, making it easy to visit on the way to or from the Serengeti.
The gorge is about 48 km long and up to 90 metres deep, cutting through layers of volcanic ash and sediment that preserve its fossils.
When to visit
Every season tells a different Olduvai story.
Olduvai can be visited year-round, on the way between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Dry Season
Dry, pleasant weather and the most popular time to travel in northern Tanzania.
Short Rains
Short afternoon showers and green scenery.
Warm & Dry
Warm days and clear skies, a great time to visit.
Long Rains
The wettest months; museums and indoor sites are a good choice on rainy days.
What is the best month to visit Olduvai?
The museum is open all year; the dry season offers clearer views of the gorge.
Warm and clear, a great month to visit.
Warm and dry before the long rains.
Long rains begin; plan indoor visits around showers.
The wettest month, but indoor sites remain open.
Rains ease towards the end of the month.
Dry season begins, with cool mornings.
Cool and dry, ideal for sightseeing.
Dry and clear, a popular travel month.
Pleasant and dry, excellent for exploring.
Warm and dry before the short rains.
Short rains bring brief showers.
Warm, green and festive.
Explore the area
Discover the different faces of Olduvai.
The gorge, the museum and nearby sites.
Main gorgeOlduvai GorgeLayers of rock revealing two million years of human and animal history.
Gorge rimOlduvai MuseumExhibits of fossils, tools and the story of the Leakey family's discoveries.
SouthLaetoli FootprintsAncient hominin footprints preserved in volcanic ash.
NorthThe Shifting SandsA black dune of volcanic ash that moves about 17 metres a year.
The Leakey Discoveries
Unearthing our ancestors.
Archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey worked at Olduvai for decades, discovering fossils such as Paranthropus boisei in 1959 and Homo habilis, one of the earliest members of our genus.
Mary Leakey's team later discovered the Laetoli footprints in 1978, providing evidence that our ancestors walked upright 3.6 million years ago.
Safaris to 中文
Safaris that visit Olduvai
Northern circuit safaris that include Olduvai Gorge.
Tanzania · 5 days
5-Day A Luxury Tour by Air (Mto wa Mbu, Ngorongoro, Serengeti)
Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 9 days
9-Day Ultimate Tanzania Luxury Safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Mto wa Mbu)
Tarangire · Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 13 days
13-Day Exceptional Safari: Premium Northern Parks & 1 Southern Park
Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Nyerere
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 10 days
10-Day Exceptional Northern Tanzania Safari: A Luxury Tour by Air
Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 5 days
5-Day Ultimate Fly-In/Out Safari from Arusha/Zanzibar
Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 2 days
2-Day Ngorongoro Crater Luxury Safari Prodigy
Ngorongoro
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 5 days
5-Day Ultimate Luxury Fly-In & Out Prodigy
Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 7 days
7-Day Lion Safari Experience
Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Lake Manyara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania · 6 days
6-Day Elephant Safari Experience
Ngorongoro · Serengeti
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Stay in 中文
Where to stay nearby
Lodges in the Ngorongoro area and the southern Serengeti.
Silver tier
Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, TanzaniaNdutu Safari LodgeA classic, much-loved lodge among the acacias above Lake Ndutu, in the heart of the calving grounds.Classic safari lodgeView lodge
Gold tier
Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, TanzaniaLake Masek Tented CampStylish tents on the shores of Lake Masek, with a front-row seat to the calving season of the Great Migration.Lakeside tented campView lodge
Platinum tier
Ngorongoro, TanzaniaAcacia Farm LodgeA quiet coffee-plantation retreat in the Karatu highlands, the perfect base before and after Ngorongoro.Coffee farm stayView lodge
Silver tier
Karatu, TanzaniaMarera Mountain View LodgeA comfortable highlands lodge in Karatu with warm fireplaces and panoramic mountain views, ideally placed between NgoronMountain-view lodgeView lodge
Gold tier
Karatu, TanzaniaNgorongoro Farm HouseA charming colonial-style farm lodge on a 500-acre coffee plantation at the foot of the Ngorongoro Crater, facing the OlCoffee farm stayView lodge
Platinum tier
Ngorongoro, TanzaniaNeptune Ngorongoro Luxury LodgeAn all-inclusive retreat of twenty luxury log-cabin suites set in 50 acres of virgin bush just steps from the NgorongoroAll-inclusive luxury lodgeView lodge
Silver tier
Ngorongoro, TanzaniaAng’ata Ngorongoro CampA small, intimate tented camp on the eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, perfectly positioned for early crater game drLuxury tented campView lodge
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The story behind Olduvai.
The gorge takes its name from oldupai, the Maasai word for the wild sisal plant that grows there. Fossils were first noticed in the early 20th century, but it was the work of the Leakey family that made Olduvai world famous.
Today, Olduvai remains an active research site and an important part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area World Heritage Site.
What is Olduvai Gorge?
One of the most important archaeological sites in the world, with fossils and tools spanning two million years of human evolution.
Where is it?
In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, between the crater and the Serengeti.
How long does a visit take?
About one to two hours for the museum and viewpoint.
Can I see the Laetoli footprints?
Casts and exhibits of the footprints are displayed at the museum.
Is it worth visiting?
Yes, it adds a fascinating human dimension to a safari.
Can I visit on a safari?
Yes, it is easily included on the drive between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
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Let Gip Adventure include Olduvai Gorge in your northern Tanzania safari.