Olduvai Gorge

Most of a safari is about wildlife, which makes Olduvai Gorge a refreshing change. This 48-kilometer ravine is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Here Louis and Mary Leakey found some of the earliest evidence of human ancestors, fossils and stone tools almost two million years old, which transformed our understanding of human origins.

There is little wildlife here and it is not a game-drive stop. Instead you will find a small, well-designed museum on the edge of the gorge, displays explaining the finds and the rock layers that preserved them, and a real sense of standing somewhere that matters to all of humanity.

Olduvai sits right on the road between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, which most northern safaris already travel. A visit usually takes an hour or two on a travel day and makes a nice break between game drives.

If your safari already includes Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, just ask and we will add the stop to your route.