A group of Gorillas is called a ‘troop’, which is more than a little ironic considering how peaceful these giants are. And they can be giants! Silverbacks (mature males) can be nearly 500lbs and stand 5’9”. More often than not though, Gorillas do not stand upright, they prefer ‘knuckle walking’, since their arms are considerably longer than their legs. Since gorillas are so heavy, a life in the trees, like other primates, is nearly impossible.
Gorillas live in close-knit groups of 6 to 12 individuals. The silverback leads the others, making all the decisions about the group’s daily endeavours, while protecting his family from any threats.
There are both eastern and western gorillas, which live in patches of forest across equatorial Africa. Lowland (Eastern) gorillas are pretty far off the beaten path, so we’re going to focus on their (Western) cousins living in the Virunga Mountains, which you are far more likely to get the opportunity to come face to face with. Although no matter which subspecies you come across, all gorillas are endangered.
Make it Happen
Most people heading out on a gorilla safari choose to visit mountain gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda. Both countries have a good infrastructure set up for tourists and your chances of encountering a gorilla are near 100%. Inspired by Dian Fossey’s amazing work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, many visitors choose to retrace her footsteps in the stunning Volcanoes National Park.
Western lowland gorillas are easily tracked in Gabon, Angola, Congo, and the Central African Republic. These areas are less expensive to visit, but there is little in the way of tourism infrastructure.
Rwanda
Uganda
DR Congo