VISIT MAGADI AND OLORGESAILIE

Posted by admin on May 27, 2011 in Adventures, Best Places, Featured Destinations, Lakes, Tourist Attraction | 155 comments

Olorgesailie is situated on the floor of the Eastern Rift Valley some 40 miles (about 64 km), southwest of Nairobi, an exciting 50 acre site for Pleistocene age on Magadi Road; This area is in a lake basin that existed during the latter part of the middle Pleistocene period, probably between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago. It has excellently preserved biological and cultural evidence about the evolution of man. This was made possible by heavy falls of alkaline volcanic ash from the volcano activities around the site. Subsequent earth movements made the stratigraphy and fossils available for study. Around the site stand Mt. Suswa and Mt. Longonot which are volcanic in origin, the vents of which might have contributed much to the ash which accumulated in the Olorgesailie basin. There is evidence of humid climate during part of the middle Pleistocene that is given by temporary lakes and swamps that exist in the area today. The sediments left by the lake cover an area of 50sq miles (about 130km2) in extent. Investigations on the site started in 1942; the researchers being Dr. and Mrs. Leakey.

Visit Lake Magadi, located in a remote area at the Kenyan south border with Tanzania, Magadi area is known for being one of the hottest and driest place of Kenya and for its pinkish mirror-like soda lake. The town of Magadi as well as the soda lake are owned and exploited by a multinational company who export the valuable sodium carbonate.

Nyama choma Lunch will be served at Ole Polo’s Country Club. Return back to Nairobi.

Discover our Heritage, Discover our Pride!

CLOTHING:

Wear light clothes, preferably cotton, trousers, and a good pair of walking shoe, a hat to protect you from the hot sun. Soda and water will be provided.