The newly established Ngorongoro–Lengai Geo Heritage Museum is beginning to attract visitors and tourism stakeholders, following its official launch by former Vice President Dr Philip Isdor Mpango on October 16, 2025.
Located within the Ngorongoro–Lengai Geopark in Arusha Region, the modern facility provides visitors with educational insights into the evolution of the Earth, geological history, cultural heritage and natural conservation efforts.
The museum offers an opportunity to observe rock formations estimated to be three million years old, learn about the landscape of the Great Rift Valley and explore interactive features that illustrate how the planet has changed over 200 million years.
The museum also presents the traditions and cultural heritage of local communities, including the Hadzabe, Iraqw, Datoga and Maasai, alongside exhibits on wildlife, sound recognition activities and other recreational learning experiences designed to inspire both local and international visitors.
Among the early visitors was a 22-member choir group from the KKKT Northern Diocese, Qurus Parish in Karatu, who recorded part of their new album titled Tumetoka Mbali at the site.
The group said the architectural design and the displays inside the museum offered a distinctive atmosphere for storytelling and artistic expression.
Their choir leader, Evangelist Eliamani Kimay, said the museum’s environment reflects the wonder of natural creation and therefore offered a meaningful backdrop for their music production.
A member of the group, Mariam Emmanuel, said their visit aimed to encourage more people to learn about Ngorongoro’s natural and cultural heritage, describing the museum as a place that connects scientific understanding with the appreciation of creation.
Ngorongoro was designated as a Global Geopark in 2018, making it the only such site in Sub-Saharan Africa and the second on the continent after Morocco.
The establishment of the Geo Heritage Museum is expected to strengthen research, conservation awareness and sustainable tourism activities in the area, while increasing local community involvement.
As awareness spreads, tourism experts anticipate that the facility will contribute to broadening the range of attractions in the northern tourism circuit, supporting both national heritage promotion and economic growth.