Ngorongoro perhaps as big as Kilimanjaro, and collapses inward

Sadiman erupts capturing the footprints at Laetoli

Early rift obscured by lava from the volcanoes

Crack developed - the Great Rift

African continent now in present shape and position

supercontinent of 'Pangaea' starts splitting to form the continents

... it last erupted in 1983, and could erupt again any day.

Main features of the area now formed

Manyara rift is formed

Pastoralists live in Serengeti and Ngorongoro - called the Stone Bowl people

all traces of Stone Bowl People disappear

sometime in last 2000 years the Mbulu people arrive (now called the Iraqw)

the ruined 'city' of Engaruka is at least 500 years old

300 years ago or more the first of the Nilo-Hamatic groups arrive - the Datago (also called the Barabaig or Mangati)

about 150 years ago the Datago were defeated by the Maasai in the Ngorongoro Crater. The massive fig trees northwest of Lerai Forest ... are sacred to the Maasai and Datoga people. Some of them may have been planted on the grave of a Datago leader who died in battle with the Maasai around 1840.

Road constructed through Ngorongoro

National Parks Ordinance

Conflict between Park Authorities and Maasai caused park to be split up. Maasai moved out of Serengeti Park, but not excluded from Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro made World Heritage Site

Lions in Ngorongoro reduced to 15 by plague of biting flies

Professor Hans Reck's expedition to Olduvai to collect fossils, sponsored by the Kaiser

Professor Hans Reck's expedition to Olduvai to collect fossils, sponsored by the Kaiser

Leakey organised an expedition to Olduvai with Reck, and found stone tools within hours of arriving.

Mary Leakey finds 'Zinjanthropus' now renamed Australopithicus boisei

Leaky Dies

Mary Leakey discovered tracks at Laetoli

Australopithicus boisei

Olmoti erupted, and thick lava flows covered the area now occupied by Olduvai gorge. Lake Olduvai formed in the area

skeleton of homo sapiens found at Olduvai

only Lengai erupts - forming Ndutu bed.

severe phase of faulting at Olduvai. Foothills of Ngorongoro subside and become Olbalbal depression. River cuts through to form Olduvai Gorge.

ash from Kerimasi's eruptions form the Masek beds. Quartzite handaxes found.

Climate improves. Still evidence of home erectus

evidence of homo erectus appears, and Australopithicus boisei disappears. Climate becomes hotter and dryer

Lake Olduvai drains because of earth movements and faulting, but a river flows through the area

We wish to thank in particular the Conservators of NCA with whom we have worked over the years: Mr H Fosbrooke, Mr A Mgina, Mr. S.ole Saibull, and Mr J Kayera.

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early on our interest in and knowledge about Ngorongoro was greatly enhanced by . . . . George and Lory Frame,

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J.ole Kwai and Tepilit ole Saitoti have helped us in our research and also to understand the Maasai people of the area.

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Felician Baraza and Sebastian Chuwa, knowledgeable in general and experts on plant life in particular have been extraordinarily tolerant of our questions over the many years that it has taken to answer them!

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The first publication of this book (NCA guide) was facilitated by our ever-helpful friends Walter Bgoya, Per and Margaret Kullander, Aadje Geertsema, Deberah Snelson, and Neil and Liz Baker