Olduvai Gorge

Olduvai Gorge, on the edge of the Serengeti in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is one of the most important prehistoric sites on earth, often called the Cradle of Mankind. In this steep ravine, the pioneering Leakey family and others unearthed some of the oldest known stone tools and fossil remains of early human ancestors, dating back nearly two million years, along with the famous Laetoli footprints nearby, transforming our understanding of human evolution.

What to look for

• The gorge - the ravine where the fossils and tools were found.
• The museum - the exhibits on human evolution and the discoveries.
• The story of the Leakeys - the pioneering excavations.
• The Laetoli footprints - the ancient hominin footprints found nearby.

When to go

June to October, the dry season, when the roads are best and it fits naturally into a northern-circuit safari; it lies on the route between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, so it is an easy, worthwhile stop.

What to expect

It is a modest site, a viewpoint over the gorge and a small museum, rather than a dramatic dig you can explore, so it is a short, interesting stop rather than a destination in itself. Its significance is scientific and historical rather than visual. It fits perfectly as a break on the drive between the crater and the Serengeti.

Nearby

The Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are on either side.

Key facts