Olduvai Gorge


Olduvai Gorge

Overview

Introduction

It was in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge, which lies between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, that Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo habilis, the remains of a 2-million-year-old man (there's a plaque marking the spot of the discovery in 1959).

There have been more than 35 discoveries in the gorge of both human fossils and prehistoric animals, including an elephant-type creature with downward curved tusks. Olduvai is not terribly exciting, but if you are passing, it is of such significance that it's worth a quick stop. Most safari companies make a detour there en route to the Serengeti. Some good-quality jewelry and Maasai artifacts are for sale at the small museum.

The gorge is 130 mi/210 km west of Arusha.

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