The archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge is located in the eastern Serengeti in northern Tanzania within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The gorge is a steep sided 48 kilometer (30 mile) long ravine, which forms part of the Great Rift Valley. It is situated on a series of fault lines which, along with centuries of erosion, has revealed fossils and remnants of early humankind. Excavation in the early twentieth century by the famous archaeologist, Dr Louis Leaky and his wife Mary, uncovered some of the earliest remains of fossil hominids at Olduvai.

Seventeen years after the first discovery of human forms, Mary discovered the unmistakable fossilised footprints of a human ancestor who had walked along a riverbank three million years ago. Since then, excavators working in Olduvai have found skeletal remains of a number of ancient hominids – Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Australopithecus Boisei. Old campsites and what is believed to be a butchery site, as well as a loosely built circle of lava blocks was also found, suggesting that crude shelters were also built here. Other findings include hunting weapons, basic tools and remains of animals once killed by humans.