22 Facts About Mountain Gorillas in Africa (Updated 2026)

22 Facts About Mountain Gorillas are facts every traveler should known about Mountain Gorillas in Africa. These 22 Facts About Mountain Gorillas give you a hint on what to expect while in the presence of the rare species of Mountain Gorillas in their natural forest vegetation habitat. 

Gorilla Trekking is very exceptional for all travelers on safari vacation. Gorillas are among the world’s most captivating and endangered primates and are found only in the high-altitude forests of East and Central Africa in countries i.e Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo. They are visited annually by many travelers as they transfer through misty jungles requiring you to be very determined to get to meet the Gorillas.

22 Facts About Mountain Gorillas

1. Mountain Gorillas inhabit the forest vegetations of the Virunga Massif i.e in Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park), Uganda (Bwindi Forest National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park) and Democratic Republic of Congo’s (Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park).
2. Mountain Gorillas Are a Subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla i.e Mountain gorilla (G. b. beringei), Eastern lowland gorilla / Grauer’s gorilla (G. b. graueri)
3. Mountain gorillas are physically different from lowland gorillas with features like longer fur, larger bodies, Adaptability to the cold in high-altitude climates.
4. They Are the Largest Primates on Earth with the adult Gorillas known as silverbacks weighing 140–200 kg (310–440 lbs). They are up to 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) tall when standing. The females are smaller with 70–100 kgs (150–220 lbs).
5. Silverbacks Lead and Protect Gorilla Families which include; a dominant silverback, many females, Juveniles, Infants.
6. Mountain Gorillas Are Peaceful and Gentle despite their size, gorillas are non-aggressive and usually calm. They only become aggressive when threatened. Their behavior includes: Grooming, Play, Soft vocalizations, Leaf-eating, Chest-beating.
7. They Are Highly Intelligent as they share about 98% of their DNA with humans through demonstrating skills like Problem-solving skills, Emotional intelligence, Memory, Tool use (rare but observed), Strong maternal care, Mother-infant interactions similar to that of the humans.
8. They Live in High-Altitude Forests between 2,200 to 4,300 meters (7,200–14,000 ft) above sea level. These regions are:
9. Mountain Gorillas Are Primarily Herbivores eating up to 30 kgs (66 lbs) of food per day, consisting of Leaves, Stems, Roots, Shoots, Fruits (seasonally),
   Bark, Occasionally insects, high-fiber and low-calorie.
10. Gorillas Have Over 25 Distinct Vocalizations through sounds, gestures and facial expressions. Common vocalizations include Grunts (reassurance), Barks (warning), Screams (distress), Roars (aggression), Belching sounds (contentment), chest-beating.
11. Mountain Gorillas Are Critically Endangered but Recovering. There are over 1,000 individuals.
12. Mountain Gorillas Sleep in Nests and Build a New One Every Night
13. Each night, families build new nests from branches and leaves. Infants share nests with mothers; adults build their own. Day nests are also made for resting.
14. They Have a Complex Social Life i.e Grooming, Playing, Wrestling among juveniles, Maternal teaching, Hierarchical bonding, Mourning the dead.
15. Infants Develop Slowly as they are born tiny weighing about 2 kgs. They are fond of clinging to their mothers for months, Start walking at around 9–12 months, they are fully weaned at about 3.5 years, reach adulthood around 8–10 years. Mothers usually give birth every 4–6 years.
16. Each Gorilla Has a Unique Nose Print which are similar to human fingerprints The Gorilla nose prints are unique and used for identification by researchers and park rangers.
17. Mountain Gorillas Do Not Survive in Captivity since they have a special diet, social structure and high-altitude adaptations that make captivity impossible due to their wild nature.
18. Only 8 people are allowed to trek a Gorilla Group per day
19. Only an hour is allowed to stay in the presence of the Gorillas while in their presence
20. You are not allowed to trek the Gorillas while sick as the Gorillas are susceptible to human diseases
21. You must keep a distance of 7 meters while in the presence of the Gorillas as you take photos
22. No flash photography is allowed using a camera