Olduvai Gorge (Oldupai): museum, Homo habilis fossils and how to visit it on a safari (2026)

Olduvai Gorge, also spelled Oldupai, is a ravine in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the road between the crater and the Serengeti. The Leakeys found fossils of our distant relatives here, including the "Zinj" skull that Mary Leakey uncovered in 1959. You visit it in 1 to 2 hours, with the small site museum (a new building opened in 2018 according to Wikipedia). It is almost never visited alone: it is a safari stop, or a private day trip from about 700 dollars according to GetYourGuide in October 2026. We found no published entry fee or opening hours; confirm them with your agency.

Highlights

The gorge and its layers

The walls show the layers where fossils and stone tools were found; a site guide explains where and when each discovery was made.

The museum and its terrace

Fossil casts, stone tools and panels on human evolution; the terrace overlooks the gorge. Allow 1 hour, up to 3 or 4 if palaeoanthropology fascinates you.

Laetoli, further south

The fossil footprints of Laetoli (about 3.6 million years old) are around 45 km away: a detour for enthusiasts only, to ask your agency about.

Nearby

See on the map →

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