Olduvai Gorge Monument & Museum
Explore the history and significance of the Olduvai Gorge Monument & Museum, showcasing the remains of Zinjanthropus and situated in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Welcome to Olduvai Gorge Monument & Museum
Olduvai Gorge
The Olduvai Gorge, which is a remarkable archaeological site in East Africa and perhaps in the world. It was officially recognized as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Exposed within the sides of the gorge is a remarkably rich chronicle of human ancestry and the evolution of the Serengeti ecosystem.
-55km (34m) Length
-100m Deep
-1930s Year Since Excavation
It was here that Mary and Louis Leakey, over the course of more than 30 years of backbreaking work, unearthed the first well-dated fossils and artefacts of some of our earliest human ancestors.
Their discoveries include the famous Zinjanthropus (Australopithecus boisei) skull, as well as remains of Homo habilis, the presumed maker of the numerous early stone tools found in deposits ranging in age from 1.6 to 1.8 million years ago, and Homo erectus, the larger- bodied and larger- brained hominin that preceded the earliest modern humans (Homo sapiens).
The gorge may be visited year-round. It is necessary to have an official guide to visit the actual excavations.
What to See?
- Rock structures and sediments
Olduvai Gorge Museum
Olduvai Gorge Museum exhibits numerous fossils, stone tools of our hominid ancestors and skeletons of many extinct animals excavated in the gorge.
Mary Leakey founded the museum in 1970. In 2017, The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority replaced the original museum structure by constructing a new museum and visitors centre.
The construction of new Museum
The new museum construction included the expansion and improvement of museum exhibits, enhancing the educational experience of the museum’s visitors, the addition of a cultural boma with spaces where visitors can explore aspects of Maasai culture, as well as a small restaurant and a covered theatre-like viewing platform that provides visitors with an inspiring view of the gorge. The new museum, visitor center, restaurant and theatre-like viewing platform were designed and built using quartzite stones.
Apart from the exhibitions inside the museum, there are also outdoor lecture areas where the museum curators give orientation presentations to visitors. At the museum, one can also plan a guided tour down the gorge to Zinj site about 1km, Mary Leakey Museum 2 km, Shifting sand 10km, Nasera Rock 33km and Olkarien Gorge 60km.
