Living Conditions

The Leakey Camp

The basecamp is set up at Leakey’s camp at Olduvai Gorge (˜240 km northwest of Arusha town and approximately a 6-hour drive from Arusha town).  Olduvai is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area a World Heritage Site famous for its natural and cultural resources.  The continuing tectonic activity in the region makes the place an epicenter of research in tectonics, environments, climate, wildlife ecology, anthropology, and human evolution. The Olduvai site is located about 3° South of the Equator (S 2°59’ and E 35°20’) with an altitude of about 1450 m.  The temperatures can range from 40°F to 90°F. Therefore, days are usually warm and dry, but nights and mornings can be chilly. Campers are advised to bring light cotton shorts and pants, and long-sleeved shirts or blouses, brimmed hats and sunglasses for the days, and long pants and fleece jackets for the evenings and mornings. 

The terrain in the camp is flat, but immediately outside the camp is the rim of the main arm of the Olduvai Gorge.  Trails to the gorge may be steep and slippery due to losing grit from the calcareous top unit. The terrain on which we will be walking during the course varies from flat grass plains with and without thorny brush, to steep outcrops.  Field studies may require hiking down and up the Korongos (gullies) along the gorge, requiring rugged boots with deep treads for a good grip.  The distance from the rim of the gorge to the nearby sites on the Olduvai riverbed is about 300 m and takes about 10 minutes to descend and about 20 minutes to ascend.  Dust is prevalent so precautions should be taken such as using bandanas that cover your nose and mouth.

 

 

Daily Life in Camp

Safety in the Field

Campers are advised to be aware of the surroundings when walking around field camp and outcrops to avoid unnecessary accidents (wounds from cuts, falling, etc.).  Some of the plants and insects at Olduvai are hazardous.  Students must wear shoes all the time and carry a flashlight after dark to avoid unnecessary accidents. 

Food and Drink

Meals (including breakfast, lunch and dinner) are prepared daily by experienced bush cooks. Meals consist of pasta, spaghetti, potatoes, French fries, chapati (Indian naan), rice, pilau (Indian spiced rice), fresh bread, cooked green bananas with vegetables and beef, ugali (corn meal), makande (mix of corn, red beans, vegetables, coconut milk) etc. served as main staple food. Fresh vegetables include spinach, green pepper, lettuce, peas, eggplant, pumpkins, carrots, mchicha (greens), tomatoes, cabbage, onions, garlic, cucumbers, tomatoes etc. Fresh chicken, beef, fish, and produce are delivered from Arusha, Karatu or Mto wa Mbu. Breakfast consists of eggs, pancakes, fresh bread (made daily by cooks), and variety of fresh tropical fruits including pineapples, papayas, avocado, bananas, oranges, mangoes, watermelons etc. Bottled water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, cookies, popcorn, and peanuts are served throughout the day. Campers are encouraged to bring their own snacks that they crave.  

Accommodations in the Campsite

All campers sleep in tents. Tents are pitched in a well-planned arrangement inside the camp fence. Bring a small wind–resistant and moisture–resistant tent, a sleeping bag, or bedding supply, towels & small camp chair. A 4-person tent is recommended if you can stand and fit your luggage inside your tent. Remember, you will live in there for more than four weeks. Bring a rain fly for your tent. Sleeping mattress, blankets, bed sheet, and pillow are provided. However, it’s recommended to bring your own twin-bed bedsheets if possible. The campsite has hot solar showers and flush toilets. However, due to water shortage campers are asked to use water careful. To conserve water campers are encouraged to use a solar shower bag (~3-5 gal). The shower bag is filled with water and laid outside in the morning/ or noon, and by afternoon the water gets hot. The shower bag is then carried to the makeshift shower huts by a camp staff whenever one wishes to take a shower. Bring your own shampoo, conditioner, body wash/shower gel, towel, and shower sandals. Laundry is provided for student campers twice a week. Remember, camp water is delivered by water bowser trucks from Karatu or Ngorongoro Crater approximately 5 hours away. We strongly encourage water conservation when showering.

Electricity, and Cellphones

Electricity: There is solar powered electricity (220V outlets available) but its use is restricted to the field labs during the day. Alternatively, we use a small generator (220V only) to charge batteries, computers, phones etc. (turned on couple of hours per day).  Bring appropriate travel adapters (UK type). Bring a couple of flashlights (with batteries) and solar lanterns/ headlamps for use in your tent. It gets pitch dark, and headlamps are recommended for walking during the night. Cellphones and Internet: There is a network at Olduvai provided by various telecommunication companies. You can use your phone if it is unlocked by replacing the SIM card with the local SIM cards.  You can get a bunch of prepaid airtime cards in Arusha if you want to make calls or use internet.  However, you may want to talk to your phone provider to ensure that your phone is unlocked before the trip. Alternatively, you can buy a cheap cell phone in Arusha ($50-100) and a SIM card (~$2) upon arrival in Tanzania and use it throughout your trip.

Packing Checklist