Archaeological sites in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Archaeological sites in Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Archaeological sites are also among the attractions which can be seen during a safari in Tanzania which is known for wildlife viewing safari experiences in various destinations and also for amazing cultures.

The Ngorongoro conservation area is not only a location for some of the popular wildlife viewing experiences but also has various archaeological sites. Many discoveries have been made over the years by scientists around Tanzania at various locations.

There are different archaeological sites that are operational and are visited by archaeologists who hope to find more fossils and remains. These sites which are visited by tourists include the following;

Olduvai gorge

Olduvai gorge is one of the popular archaeological sites in Tanzania which is located about 40 km from the Ngorongoro crater. This site is known for evidence of human evolution discovered by Dr Louis and Mary Leakey.

The gorge is about 90 meters deep and stretches for 50 km. Discoveries which were made at Ol duvai gorge are kept at the national museum in Dar es Salaam. Other discoveries made at the site include fossiled bones and stone tools.

Some of the discoveries made by Dr Louis and Mary Leakey at Ol duvai gorge include the Zinjanthropus boisei, Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. This arcaheological site is also referred to by some as “cradle of mankind”.

There is also a museum at Ol duvai gorge which was founded by Dr Mary Leakey which displays the numerous fossils and stone tools discovered or excavated at the gorge. Exhibitions take place at the museum which also has an outdoor lecture area.

During guided tours at the museum, the visitors are briefed from the outdoor lecture area by the museum curators. The museum is dedicated to understanding of the Ol duvai gorge and Laetoli sites.

Guides are also available to take tourists around the Ol duvai gorge during their safaris in the northern part of Tanzania.

Nasera Rock in Ngorongoro Crater

Nasera rock is an inselberg located north of Ol duvai and it is found above the plain of the shadow of the crater of Ol donyo Lengai Mountain.

This rock is the biggest fully exposed inselberg and the Nasera rock is also known for its archaeological resources which were discovered in the 1930s.

During safaris, you can climb to the top of the Nasera rock and enjoy views of the savannah plains nearby. Wildlife species like klipspringers can also be spotted around the rock as visitors explore the attractions.

There are also rock paintings which can be seen in the area. The findings made at the Nasera rock include stone artifacts, bone fragments, shreds of pottery which date up to about 30000 years BC.

Nasera rock is visited by climbers and is also a good location for bird watching experiences. The top of the rock can be reached from the eastern side which is gentler and easier to climb during a visit to the rock.

Bird species can be seen around the lower part of Nasera rock and during the wet season, wildebeests can also be spotted around this area. The calving season can also be witnessed during a visit to this rock during the months of January to April.

How to get to Nasera rock

The Nasera rock is about a half-hour drive from Olduvai gorge and it can also be accessed from any other part of the Ngorongoro conservation area.

Laetoli footprints

The Laetoli footprints are found in a paleontological site in the northern part of Tanzania where footprints of early humans were discovered in the volcanic ash. These footprints were covered up as a result of volcanic eruption over 3.6 million years ago.

Evidence of the footprints was discovered by Mary Leakey and show that the humans who left them had a short stride and short legs. It is also said that the legs of the early humans evolved over time and became longer and they started walking faster and farther.

The shape of the feet and the footprints made show that they were made by the early humans. This site is located in the Ngorongoro conservation area at the southern edge of Serengeti national park.

Apart from the different archaeological sites which are in the Ngorongoro crater, this destination is home to a variety of wildlife species such as the big five like elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos.

Other wildlife species in the Ngorongoro conservation area include wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, buffalos, hippos, antelopes, gazelles, waterbucks, cheetahs, rhinos, impalas, giraffes, elands, hyenas and many others.

The Ngorongoro crater is among the popular attractions in the northern part of Tanzania and it is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The crater is also described as the world’s largest inactive caldera.

The Ngorongoro conservation area is under the management of the Ngorongoro conservation area authority which is in charge of managing the destination which covers about 8292 square kilometers sheltering archaeological sites, beautiful landscape and various wildlife and bird species.

There are over 25000 wildlife species in the Ngorongoro conservation area and is also home to the Maasai people who are known for their unique culture and semi nomadic way of life.

Visit the Ngorongoro conservation area and explore the different archaeological sites and get to know more about the early ages.