Overview

This much researched area is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, stemming back nearly a hundred years ago from the research and discoveries made by Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife Mary. The archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge is located in the Eastern Serengeti in Northern Tanzania within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The gorge is a steep sided 4 to 8- kilometers (30 mile) long ravine, which forms part of the Great Rift Valley. It is situated on a series of fault lines which, along with centuries of erosion, has revealed fossils and remnants of early humankind. It is often referred to as the "cradle of mankind". There is a museum and regular interpretive talks about the history of the gorge and is well worth a visit if traveling to the Serengeti. Spending a few hours in this area is usually sufficient to take in what is open to the public.