Mountain gorillas inhabit the highlands of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. They evolved half a million years ago, with the rise of the Virunga volcanoes, becoming larger than lowland gorillas and with thicker fur. Discovered in 1902, their groups consist of 10-20 members and they live 30-50 years. There are only approximately 872 mountain gorillas but their number is increasing.
They are herbivores yet sometimes eat ants and termites. They tend to eat in the morning and in the afternoon and travel 1-2km (1mi) in search of suitable nesting sites.
Mountain gorillas use vocalisations, physical gestures and movement to communicate. Their contact grunts are very important for group cohesion and coordination.
Females reach sexual maturity at eight years and mate with some or all males in the group. Pregnancy is 8.5 months and there are 3-4 years between births. At birth they weigh 1.5-2kg (4lb) and after four months ride on their mother’s back.
A silverback is an adult male, over 12 years old, with a distinctive patch of silver hair on his back and large canine teeth. He is the group leader, makes all the decisions, mediates conflicts, leads them to feeding sites and is responsible for defence, safety and well-being.
For information on gorilla tracking please click here.
This Travel Guide is based on the the Gorilla Highlands Interactive eBook, an award-winning labour of love that gives you a comprehensive insight into the cultures, languages, people and nature that make our area so special. By purchasing the ebook you will contribute to an ambitious initiative that aims to transform southwestern Uganda.