Culture & Heritage · Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Olduvai Gorge & Laetoli
Known as the "Cradle of Mankind" — fossil discoveries by Louis and Mary Leakey here reshaped scientific understanding of early human evolution.
How to get there
Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the road between Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
What to find
The Olduvai Gorge Museum and, nearby, the Laetoli hominid footprints preserved in volcanic ash.
Overview
Olduvai Gorge, officially called Oldupai Gorge after a local plant, is one of the most important palaeoanthropological sites in the world. Here, Louis and Mary Leakey and their teams found early human fossils and stone tools, including the famous skull found by Mary Leakey in 1959, known as 'Zinj'.
About 45 km to the south, at Laetoli, Mary Leakey's team found fossil footprints preserved in volcanic ash in 1978. At around 3.6 million years old, they're some of the earliest evidence of humans' ancestors walking upright.
Highlights
- The Olduvai Gorge Museum and its viewpoint over the gorge
- Stories of the Leakey discoveries
- Replica casts of the Laetoli footprints at the museum
- An easy stop between the Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Things to do
Museum visit
Allow about an hour, with a talk overlooking the gorge.
Best time to visit
All year.
Getting there
On the road between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Where to stay
Stay at Ngorongoro, Ndutu or the Serengeti.
Ngorongoro
A selection of well-known options, not a complete list. See all accommodation in Tanzania →
Good to know
- Visiting the Laetoli site itself needs special arrangements. The museum has casts of the footprints.
Permit prices, park rules and access can change. We always confirm the latest details when we plan your trip.