8 days
Photo: Noel Feans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsOlduvai Gorge
The northern safari circuit · UNESCO World Heritage
Olduvai (officially Oldupai) Gorge is a steep ravine in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where Mary and Louis Leakey found some of the most important early human fossils and stone tools, nearly two million years old. A short detour from the Serengeti road, it's a fascinating break between game drives.
What to see
- The museum: Fossils, tools and a cast of the Laetoli footprints, made by early humans about 3.6 million years ago.
- The gorge viewpoint: A guide explains the layers of rock and where the finds were made.
- The Shifting Sands: A crescent shaped dune of black volcanic ash that slowly moves across the plain, nearby.
Fitting it in
Most safaris stop here on the drive between the crater and the Serengeti; ask your operator to include it. It's a good place for a picnic lunch and to stretch your legs. See our Tanzania safari itineraries.
Tip: Ask your guide about the Maasai who live around the gorge: many visits can include a stop at a boma.
Why it matters
The gorge cuts through about two million years of rock layers, laid down beside an ancient lake. In 1959 Mary Leakey found the skull of Paranthropus boisei here, and later finds of Homo habilis and thousands of stone tools made Olduvai one of the key places for understanding how early humans lived. Nearby, at Laetoli, footprints left in volcanic ash about 3.6 million years ago show that our ancestors walked upright.
Practical information
| Location | In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, off the Serengeti road |
| Time needed | About an hour for the museum and viewpoint |
| Facilities | Toilets and a shaded picnic area |
| Fees | A museum fee on top of the conservation area fee |
Who it suits
Anyone curious about human origins, and families who need a break from long game drives. If you're short of time, your guide can stop at the viewpoint only, but the museum is worth half an hour.
Where it is
Multi-day tours that visit Olduvai Gorge
Every tour here includes Olduvai Gorge in its itinerary. Best rated first.
8 days
5 days
5 daysArusha
Elephant Special Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater 5 Days / 4 Nights
4.9(73)Free cancellation
from$2,418
4 days
7 days
8 daysCombine it with
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Olduvai Gorge: questions
How long do you need at Olduvai Gorge?
About an hour for the museum, a talk at the viewpoint and a picnic.
Is Olduvai Gorge worth visiting?
Yes, as a short stop between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, especially if you're interested in human origins.
What was found at Olduvai Gorge?
Early human fossils, including Paranthropus boisei and Homo habilis, and some of the oldest stone tools, found by Mary and Louis Leakey and others.