The Olduvai Gorge is found within the wider Ngorongoro conservation area. It is where some of the first fossils of the earliest humans were found. For this reason, it is sometimes known as the cradle of mankind.

The site sits on a collection of fault lines which got exposed due to erosion allowing scientists to excavate fossils that are millions of years old. The first fossil was discovered in 1911 by a German professor while looking for butterflies in the area. Later, the Leakey family carried out more advanced explorations in the area where they unearthed bones and fragments of skulls believed to be about 2 million years old.

The Leakey’s also unearthed hunting weapons and other tools which are believed to be 1 to 1.5 million years old. Perhaps the greatest discovery where the footprints of a woman, man and child that are believed to be over 1 million years old. These tools and bones are enough evidence to show that some of the oldest known humans lived in Olduvai Gorge and Tanzania for that matter.