Currently, only a few tourists and companies show interest in the Olduvai region. However, this region, which is exclusively used by off-road vehicles, is probably the most exciting part of the Northen circuit.
The Olduvai location
Olduvai Gorge cuts through the western slope of the Rift Valley in the Serengeti Plain, in the heart of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA).
The paleontological discoveries made here are exceptional for several reasons:
- The presence of a lake originally allowed practically continuous sedimentation over the last two million years and a relatively rapid burial of numerous faunistic and lithic remains.
- the intense volcanic activity that led to the deposition of various dateable layers of volcanic ash.
- the uncovering of this ancient deposit by erosion and by the outflow of the lake, which led to the erosion of the gorges, thus making the different layers accessible. The Olduvai sequence was divided into different layers or fragments.
Although the site is considered the cradle of humanity, it should not be forgotten that prehistoric human groups were probably present in many parts of Africa. In Olduvai, however, a combination of favourable factors made the preservation and later rediscovery possible. Research provided direct evidence of their existence.
A small museum documents the most important discoveries that were made there.
It is possible to walk the gorge under the guidance of one of the site managers. There are many fossils (prehistoric animals that are between 2,000,000 and 700,000 years old), but it is forbidden to take them with you.
From Olduvai Camp you can walk along the gorge to the museum. Walking time: about 2 hours.