Exploring Rift Valley: Tracing mankind roots at Kariandusi

What you need to know:

  • The pre-historic site was discovered in 1928 by Louis Leakey during his first visit to the central Rift Valley
  • The room also contains models of various volcanic eruptions that took place in the region hundreds of years ago

This is one place that takes the visitor back in time on matters evolution.

Less than two kilometres from Lake Elementaita on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway is the Kariandusi prehistoric site, dubbed the cradle of mankind.

The pre-historic site was discovered in 1928 by Louis Leakey during his first visit to the central Rift Valley.

He later excavated the site between 1929 to 1947, leading to the discovery of Africa as the cradle home of humankind.

Our guide, Mr Peter Cheporion, leads us to the lower side of the site, where we can clearly see white smoke emanating from a diatomite- processing plant, which is a few metres away from the site.

“Many years ago, the whole region was covered by lake water, something that changed after several volcanic eruptions took place,” he said.

On the wooden stairs down to the site, we meet with students from various secondary schools in the country, who seems to make up the bigger percentage of the visitors.

“The museum, which is under the National Museums of Kenya, mostly attracts students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions where they mainly come for learning,” said Mr Cheporion, our guide.

At the end of the trail, we come across a preserved excavated site with specimens of stone tools believed to have been used by the early man.

The hand tools made from black volcanic rock found in lava flows includes heavy hand axes and cleavers.

“Most of the tools here made from stone were used for hunting, as we understand the early man depended on hunting for food, “said Mr Cheporion.

Our tour ends at the museum buildings, where we find a display of bones, skulls and other excavated fossils explaining the different stages of man’s evolution.

The room also contains models of various volcanic eruptions that took place in the region hundreds of years ago.

“Through this historical information, scientists have been able to deduce the period in time that the early humans lived, how they interacted with the environment, the animals that lived there, the tools they used, what they ate, how they got their food, and the climatic conditions they faced in their time,” he added.

The curator of the museum on the site, Mr Alexander Lenapir, said the site is visited by up to 400 students a day and up to 50 international visitors during the peak season in July and August.