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The United Republic of Tanzania

NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA AUTHORITY

The United Republic of Tanzania

NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
AUTHORITY

Overview

The Olduvai Gorge Site Museum is situated six kilometers from the main road junction where the Zinjanthropus monument stands on the way to Serengeti National Park. The Museum is located at the edge of the Gorge's bank, overlooking the famous rock castle in the Gorge's midsection, just at the confluence of the side and mini gorge river valleys. The Museum is located on the rim of the Gorge, 5 kilometers beyond the monument, at the intersection of the main Gorge and the side gorge. It is known to be one of the few onsite museums. This Museum offers extensive archeological and cultural exhibits directly related to the Gorge, as well as research on the Gorge's history, discoveries, and overall history to the present day.

One old museum was built during the Leakey era and was inherited by the Department of Antiquities in the 1990s. In 2017 a new museum was opened, and today both are now running concurrently with the same mission of highlighting mankind's unique history in the NCA.

The Olduvai Gorge Museum is a fascinating journey back in time to the earliest days of mankind. It showcases numerous fossils and stone tools from our hominid ancestors, as well as skeletons of many extinct animals excavated in the Gorge. Following an interesting lecture on the work done by scientists, realistic copies of the most important findings can be easily viewed.

The Museum was founded by Mary Leakey, and it is dedicated to the appreciation and understanding of the Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli fossil discoveries.

It also houses a stunning sheltered viewing area of the gorge, used for outdoor lectures, presentations, and talks by tour guides and museum curators,  as well as a shop in which one can purchase local products and books, along with a restaurant, a community center and restrooms.

Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey (Photo: Wikipedia)

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  • Fossils, stone tools, skeletons from extinct animals
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  • Museum Tours, Educational seminars

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F.A.Q's

Ngorongoro is managed by a different government authority namely Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA). To get their details including fees kindly visit their website www.ngorongorocrater.go.tz

The Ngorongoro Crater is home to much more than wildlife safaris, with important cultural and archaeology here too.

Away from the wildlife, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has other areas of significance. Oldupai Gorge is one of Africa’s most important archaeological excavations where some of the world’s most humanoid remains were discovered.

When travelling to foreign destinations it is always respectful to dress modestly and we suggest the emphasis is on comfortable clothing.

It is often warm on the plains and at lower altitudes but cold in the hilly and mountainous areas; a rain jacket, fleece and good quality walking shoes/boots are essential.

The Ngorongoro Crater is rich in wildlife, with many species calling this vast area home.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera with a diameter of 16km and a crater wall over 600m high. It is a true Garden of Eden, an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s densest large mammal populations and predators. Over 400 spotted hyenas exist in the crater (especially on the eastern shore of Lake Magadi), along with lion’s, leopard (spotted on occasions in the swampy areas), and black-backed and golden jackals.

The lion population has varied during the years partly due to migration into and out of the crater but mainly because of the vulnerability of the compact population. Cheetah, although common in the Conservation Area, are scarce in the Crater possibly due to the high rate of competition from other predators.

Elephant (especially around the Gorigor Swamp area) and buffalo are regularly seen. There also exist residential populations and large concentrations of wildebeest (over 10,000 in number), Burchell’s zebra (approximately 5,000), and buffalo, Thomson’s and grant’s gazelle in the open grasslands of the crater floor. The Ngorongoro Crater is perhaps the best place in Africa to see the endangered black rhinoceros.

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