Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai, or Oldupai, Gorge is a palaeoanthropological site located in the Great Rift Valley, between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania.
Oldupai is a Maasai term for a wild sisal plant found in the area.
Olduvai Gorge is also known as the Cradle of Mankind. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.
Olduvai Gorge formed about 300,000 years ago due to intense geological activity and stream erosion.
It is approximately 55 kilometers long and up to 100 meters deep.
Geologically, tectonic activities, including faulting and water actions, carved this gorge and exposed layers rich in prehistoric remains.
To this end, archaeological and palaeontological collections from this site have contributed significantly to the current understanding of the origin and spread of early human ancestors.
The steep ravine is about 30 miles (48.2 km) long and 295 feet (89.9 meters) deep, not quite large enough to be classified as a canyon.
A river cuts through several layers to form four individual beds, with the oldest estimated at 2 million years old.
From the oldest to the youngest, they are
- Bed I is about 1.7 million to 2.1 million years old,
- Bed IIis 1.15 million to 1.7 million years old,
- Bed III 800,000 to 1.15 million years old,
- Bed IV 600,000 to 800,000 years old, t
- The Masek Beds are 400,000 to 600,000 years old,
- The Ndutu Beds are 32,000 to 400,000 years old,
- The Naisiusiu Beds are 15,000 to 22,000 years old.
Thinking of visiting this area? We offer customized tours for visitation; you can join them with other trips or do it alone.
A few hours from Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park. Discuss the best option with your tour specialist.



