This post will cover Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Entrance Fees. The Olorgesailie prehistoric site and museum is located between two extinct volcanoes, Mt. Olorgesailie and Oldonyo Esakut, along Magadi Road, 70 km away from Nairobi. It is renowned as the “world’s largest stone tool factory” and the only place in the world with the largest number of such tools.
The Olorgesailie site, located in a dried lake basin in the Rift Valley, is an official site of the National Museums of Kenya. This region gained global recognition when palaeontologists Mary and Louis Leakey discovered fossils of early humans dating back to the Acheulean era, spanning from 200,000 to 1.5 million years ago.
In addition to the human fossils, hundreds of stone-age tools and the remains of extinct mammal species such as zebras, pigs, baboons, hippos, antelopes, and elephants have been unearthed at the site. Scientists have been able to create a timeline of the area dating back almost 1 million years.
The area was once home to a lake and a flowing river, creating an environment that attracted a wide variety of animals. Volcanic activity over the centuries helped preserve the handaxes and bones buried in sediments and ash. The site of the mammal fossils is about a 15-minute walk from the main centre. Along the way, visitors will pass small hills with sediment layers and catch a glimpse of Mt. Olorgesailie in the distance.
Under a shelter, visitors can find the large bones of an extinct elephant species called Elephas recki, which lived 992,000 years ago and was related to the modern Asian elephant. Another shelter contains several bones of prehistoric hippos. Further on, there are more excavated sites containing dozens of handaxes and stones shaped into oblong and rounded tools, which were used by our human ancestors for various purposes.
For visitors with packed lunches, there is an outdoor shaded seating area with long tables and benches. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy spotting different types of birds, such as hornbills, weaver birds, Namaqua doves, emerald-spotted wood doves, and the red-and-yellow barbet. Accommodation is available for longer visits in self-catering bandas or at a camping site. For the adventurous, Mt. Olorgesailie is a good place for a full-day hike.
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Location
It is a short distance, as it is only 70 km down the Magadi Road, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Nairobi CBD. The road to Magadi has recently been redone so 4WD is not necessary. However, be warned, your choices to access Magadi Road are still between Ongata Rongai, where Nairobi’s traffic jams are brought into this world kicking and screaming, or the Ngong Town-Kiserian road that eats shocks for breakfast.
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Activities
- The museum has an exhibition that interprets the discoveries made at the prehistoric site.
- Bandas: There are Bandas at the site museum for overnight stays at affordable rates.
- Birds watching: The site is a bird watcher’s paradise, citing the highest number of migratory bird species in Kenya.
- Mountain climbing/trekking: It takes about 4 hours to ascend and 3 hours to descend.
- Campsite: Affordable camping facilities available, picnic site.
- Baboon Camp: This is a scenic, deep gorge inhabited by baboons in the evening. It offers great adventure in rock climbing, photography, sundowners and nature walks.
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Entry Fees
| Citizen – Kenya | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 100 |
| Below 16 years | Ksh 50 |
| Residents – East Africa | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 400 |
| Below 16 years | Ksh 200 |
| Non-Residents | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 500 |
| Below 16 years | Ksh 250 |
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Camping Rates
| Citizen – Kenya | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 300 |
| Below 16 years | Ksh 200 |
| Residents – East Africa | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 400 |
| Below 16 years | Ksh 250 |
| Non-Residents | Charges |
| Adult | Ksh 600 |
| Below 16 years | Ksh 300 |
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Bandas Rates
The huts come with a comfortable bed, bedding, and a mosquito net. There is an outdoor shower and toilet. The caretaker cautions against leaving the premises due to the presence of “dangerous maasais” in the area. He recommends hiring a guide who can take visitors to a baboon cliff about 1 km away, charging Ksh 500 per person.
- Deluxe Bandas
| Citizen – Kenya | Charges |
| Single | Ksh 1,200 |
| Double | Ksh 1,500 |
| Residents – East Africa | Charges |
| Single | Ksh 1,500 |
| Double | Ksh 1,800 |
| Non-Residents | Charges |
| Single | Ksh 1,800 |
| Double | Ksh 2,000 |
2. Standard Bandas
| Citizen – Kenya | Charges |
| Single | Ksh 1,000 |
| Double | Ksh 1,200 |
| Residents – East Africa | Charges |
| Single | Ksh 1,200 |
| Double | Ksh 1,500 |
| Non-Residents | Charges |
| Single | Ksh 1,500 |
| Double | Ksh 1,800 |
Other Charges
- Mountain Guide fees: Maximum 5pax per guide: Ksh.5,000
- Baboon Camp Guide fee: Ksh. 500 per person
- Picnic fees per person: Adult Ksh. 200, Child (below 16 years): Ksh. 100
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Opening Hours
Olorgesailie is open daily from 8 am–6 pm and makes for an easy day outing from Nairobi.
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site Contacts
Phone: +254-20-8164134
Email: olorgesailie@museums.or.ke
