Mountain gorillas have become the icon of African safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are many things that set mountain gorillas apart not only from other wild animals but also from other gorilla subspecies. Here are ten interesting facts about mountain gorillas and gorilla safaris in general

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Mountain Gorilla Facts

Mountain gorillas are only tracked between 8:00 am-6 pm. There is no option for night gorilla trekking. All the treks are done during the day.

The male mountain gorillas present an interesting unique feature as they grow older; the hair on the back turns grey or silver. It’s from this change of hair color that these male gorillas have become to be known as the silverbacks.

Mountain gorillas live in nests. As the day comes to an end, the mountain gorillas make up a nest to rest at night with the vegetation that is surrounding them.

The nose prints are the only way you can identify one mountain gorilla from the other. They never have the same nose appearance.

Mountain gorillas are only found in the four national parks in the whole world. That is; Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park, Virunga national park, and Volcanoes national park.

Mountain gorillas cannot survive in Zoos. For that reason, they are found only in national parks.

There are less than 1300 mountain gorillas in the whole world

Mountain gorillas sometimes drink water from rivers or streams. However, they get most of their water from the plants they eat. It is a very rare scene to find mountain gorillas drinking water.

The gorillas that dwell in the Virunga Mountains are characterized by darker and longer hairs that can adapt to their environment.

A fully-grown mountain gorilla can weigh up to 220kg while a baby mountain gorilla weighs between 1.4 to 1.8 kg.

Other Mountain Gorilla Facts

1. Mountain Gorillas share 98% DNA with human beings.
2. They are one of the biggest and most powerful living primates. A male Gorilla can weigh up to 220 kg.
3. They can eat all day long. Mountain Gorillas have huge stomachs to accommodate large quantities of food.
4. They have different types of calls like short barks, stiff legs, beat chest, and vocalization among others.
5. They form and live in groups called Gorilla families. Each family is led by a mature and dominant male called a silverback.
6. Mountain Gorillas in the wild can live for over 40 years