Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Travel Guide: Top Sights in Kenya,

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Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Kenya; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 3 hours

Olorgesailie, located in Kenya's Southern Rift Valley about 67 kilometers southwest of Nairobi, is a major archaeological and geological site known for its extensive record of early human activity. The site sits within an ancient lake basin and has yielded one of the largest known concentrations of Acheulean hand axes, dating from 600,000 to 900,000 years ago. These tools are believed to have been used by Homo erectus to butcher large animals whose fossils—such as extinct hippos, elephants, and baboons—have been uncovered in the same stratigraphic layers. Excavations began in the 1940s under Mary and Louis Leakey, with later contributions by researchers like Glynn Isaac and Richard Potts. In addition to stone tools, a significant hominin fossil—a frontal skull bone possibly from Homo erectus—was discovered in 2003. More recent excavations have unearthed evidence of complex behaviors from about 320,000 years ago, including long-distance trade of obsidian, use of pigments, and production of pointed tools, suggesting early cognitive and cultural developments associated with emerging Homo sapiens. Geological studies at Olorgesailie have shown how tectonic activity and environmental shifts influenced hominin adaptation. Volcanic ash from nearby mountains helped preserve archaeological remains, while sediment cores drilled from the nearby Koora Basin have provided a continuous one-million-year climate record. This combination of archaeology, geology, and paleoecology makes Olorgesailie a key site for understanding the interplay between environmental change and human evolution in Africa.

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Reviews of Olorgesailie

Robert Lutta

3
Reviewed: 2025-04-19

Those who love history and archeology a historical site. possible for a day trip and drive down the beautiful roads into the Riftvalley.
Megan Rutledge

5
Reviewed: 2023-06-14

I’m an Archaeologist from Canada and I knew that while in Kenya I would regret it forever if I didn’t visit a site. I chose this one based on the quality of the museum, the significance of the site, and the amount of material in situ still remaining. Our guide, Adrian, was friendly, knowledgeable and engaging (Even for my friends who didn’t care much for these affairs, he pulled them right in!). A group of Maasai women came from a neighbouring village to sell their wares and it was lovely. I was in tears at the richness of this site, its preservation, and the quality of the people caring for it. It was a dream to see all the things I studied in text books all throughout my degree, right there in front of me, where it originated. If you have any sort of passion for human evolution, this site is a must.
Brian Biomdo

5
Reviewed: 2022-12-27

Nice stop to get the history of mankind and prehistoric tools. Also great for learning a bit of geography especially for relating the theory that is taught in Kenyan schools with actual findings.
Acacia Aggarwal

5
Reviewed: 2022-06-23

The campsite and bandas are all you need for simple camping. This place is world famous but we Kenyans don't know enough about it!
Dorcas Mbugua

5
Reviewed: 2022-03-07

Who knew that there's a place in Kenya where you can go and get a visual of the history and discovery of the oldest human remains in the world?! Before yesterday, I certainly didn't! We drove into Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site on our way to Magadi and went on a quick guided tour of Mary Leakey's discoveries, including the oldest elephant and hippo remains.