Olduvai Gorge 

 UNESCO World Heritage Site 

Standing on the cliff’s edge, spread out beneath you -- is millions of years of pristine record-keeping. Olduvai Gorge is an archaeological site, famous for proving the earliest date of human bi-pedal movement. Confirmed, 3.7 million years ago, humans were walking on two feet!

Hominin Footprint discovered in Olduvai Gorge

History

A volcanic eruption happened long ago, followed rapidly by an ice age -- the volcanic rock hardened quickly from the cold, forming a modern “Saran (plastic) wrap” coating on top of footprint records. Within the preserved volcanic rock, one can discover the famous Laetoli footprints! Without the volcanic rock coating, footsteps, including the historic Laetoli footprints from 3.7 millions years ago would have eroded long before us modern humans could have discovered them!

Standing over 10,000 feet tall, Mount Lemakarot looms over the entrance to Ngorongoro Crater.

Archaeology

Beyond evidence of bipedal movement, Olduvai Gorge is famous for its discovery of early hominin fossils, primitive stone tools, and other mammal fossils - Olduvai has been and continues to be an important and active paleoanthropological site. Depending when you visit, there is an exciting possibility of witnessing an active dig! College students from prestigious universities often come out to do research during their summer semesters. Keep a look-out!

Tourism & Geology

Take a pause from wildlife observation in nearby parks to stand in an amphitheater overlooking one of the most historic sites in the world. Native guides talk you through the incredible journey of the gorge and the rich history that it holds. Further, visit the Gorge’s newly constructed museum. Interactive exhibits help convey the significance of the Gorge’s discoveries. There, you will find replicas of all the amazing archaeological components of Olduvai Gorge, as well as an extensive walkthrough of human evolution.

The main attraction at the museum, however, is its amphitheater overlooking the main dig site at Olduvai Gorge. Depending on the time of year you visit, you could find an active dig looking for more evidence of ancient humans! From the amphitheater, you will see Olduvai's famous rock formation showing at least 4 distinct sediment beds. The lower the bed is in the formation, the older the rock is. This is how archaeologists can accurately date the discovery of the bones they find. Many of the bones and tools found in Olduvai Gorge were present in Bed 1, dating human activity at the gorge to around 1.75 to 1.9 million years ago!

To better understand the difference in the sedimentary beds, check out the photo below. You can distinctly see the split in the beds where the rock formation changes colors. You will certainly be able to see this at your visit to the Olduvai Gorge Museum!

Standing over 10,000 feet tall, Mount Lemakarot looms over the entrance to Ngorongoro Crater.

Olduvai Gorge Map

As you can see in the map below, Olduvai Gorge is located in the massive and beautiful Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. The museum is about an hour and a half from the main Karatu entrance to the conservation area. On a Kopa Tours safari, your guide will drive around the Ngorongoro Crater rim, and through the Great Rift Valley near the base of Mount Lemakarot- an area heavily populated by native Maasai and Iraqw people- before stopping at the Olduvai Gorge museum. Once there, you may walk through the museum at your own pace, and listen to a lecture in its amazing amphitheater overlooking the gorge before heading onward to Serengeti National Park.

Olduvai Gorge

Olduvai Facts:

  • Millions of years ago, Olduvai Gorge was actually a lake.
  • The native name of the gorge was 'Oldupai' but in the early 1900's a famous German archeologist misheard it and wrote 'Olduvai' in the record books.
  • Hominin footprints preserved in volcanic ash were discovered here. That shows proof that bipedal movement was occurring here around 3.7 million years ago.

Book a trip today!

Tours which include a visit to the Olduvai Gorge World Heritage Site:
SVG Wave

Explore Other Tanzania National Parks