Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site

-1.57686 , 36.44247

Kenya

Olorgesailie is a Masai word which means "A place where sacrifices and prayers were made." e.g. prayers for rain and victory in wars with other communities. These sacrifices were made on the nearby 1,760m sacred mountain, Mount Olorgesailie.

Located in semi-arid country 65km southwest of Nairobi, the Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site is a key hotspot for birders who wish to do a day trip from Nairobi and back. With a fascinating variety of thornbush birds, driving down this beautiful escarpment rewards you with some of Kenya's most picturesque landscapes of the Rift Valley.

The typical habitat at Olorgesailie features grass and scattered acacia bushes, including Acacia tortilis and Acacia mellifera. These plants grow on white silica sediments made up of the skeletons of algae deposited during repeated floods in ancient times in the Olorgesailie area. 

Visiting birders will be treated to a host of unique species, including D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Crimson-rumped and Black-cheeked Waxbills, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Green-winged Pytilia, Cut-throat Finch as well as Grey-headed and African Silverbills.

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The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : -1.5769/36.4425 (2020-11-29 21:28:45 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site" (2020-11-29 21:28:45 )

Edited by Alex Mwangi on 2025-05-14 08:44:39
Olorgesailie is a Masai word which means "A place where sacrifices and prayers were made." e.g. prayers for rain and victory in wars with other communities. These sacrifices were made on the nearby 1,760m sacred mountain, Mount Olorgesailie. Located in semi-arid country 65km southwest of Nairobi, the Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site is a key hotspot for birders who wish to do a day trip from Nairobi and back. With a fascinating variety of thornbush birds, driving down this beautiful escarpment rewards you with some of Kenya's most picturesque landscapes of the Rift Valley. The typical habitat at Olorgesailie features grass and scattered acacia bushes, including Acacia tortilis and Acacia mellifera. These plants grow on white silica sediments made up of the skeletons of algae deposited during repeated floods in ancient times in the Olorgesailie area.  Visiting birders will be treated to a host of unique species, including D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Crimson-rumped and Black-cheeked Waxbills, Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, Green-winged Pytilia, Cut-throat Finch as well as Grey-headed and African Silverbills.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata)
Steel-blue Whydah (Vidua hypocherina)
Golden Pipit (Tmetothylacus tenellus)

Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata) was added by Alex Mwangi (2025-05-13 12:05:43)

Golden Pipit (Tmetothylacus tenellus) was added by Alex Mwangi (2025-05-13 12:05:19)

Steel-blue Whydah (Vidua hypocherina) was added by Alex Mwangi (2025-05-13 12:04:52)

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  • How to get there

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  • Other attractions

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instance, these may include:
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