MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA - GORILLA TRAVEL INFORMATION, GORILLA TREKKING TOURS

Mountain gorillas: Gorilla beringei beringei, are found in 4 national parks in East Africa which are made up of Dense rain forests of afromontane and medium altitude. Habitats include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda) which has about 340 gorillas, and about 358 individuals of mountain gorillas are found in the habitat shared by Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda), Virunga National Park -Southern Sector (DRC) and Volcano National Park (Rwanda).

Quick Facts

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Pongidae.
Genus, species: Gorilla gorilla.
Lifespan: 30-50 years
Diet: Herbivorous (vegetarian) Mountain gorillas eat over 200 different species of plants like tubers, flowers, fruit, fungus and some insects. Males consume approximately 50 lbs. a day and they rarely need to drink since their diet includes all the moisture they need, from which they get their water.

Size: Males: Up to 6 feet tall, standing. Females: Up to 5 feet tall.

Gestation: About 8 1/2 months and Infants stay with their mothers for 3-4 years.

Weight: Males: 350 pounds. Females: 215 pounds. Babies from one to three years weigh between 20-30 lbs.

Color: Black or brown-gray fur with black skin on chests, palms and faces. Males develop a silver back as they mature.

Recognition: Gorillas recognize each other by their faces and body shapes. Each gorilla has a unique nose print.

Predators: Predominantly humans and occasionally leopards. Gorillas will defend their young with their lives.

Size: Male Gorillas are larger than the females.

Physical Characteristics: The mountain gorilla is the hairiest race of gorillas, a massive chest, long palates, muscular arms, higher foreheads, thick black hair, and a robust build with long and broad hands and feet.

Stance: Gorillas are quadrupled and walk on all fours with the soles of their feet flat on the ground and the knuckles of the hands curled and planted on the ground.

Vocalizations: Screams, high-pitched barks indicating curiosity and grunts indicating contentment. They can generate about 25 distinct noises, and hooting can carry a mile.

Social structure: They live in groups of 2-40 individuals, averaging about 11 individuals. A typical group consists of one silverback, one immature silverback, one immature male, three to four adult females, and 3-6 youngsters under eight years old. Adult males usually leave the group after sexual maturity and start their own group or join other bachelor gorillas.

Behavior/communication: Gorillas are gentle, intelligent and learn from their mothers and other adults ands also chuckle, smile and purr. The silverback stands upright to appear larger, beats on his chest, roars, and waves his arms, tears branches and charges in order to frighten off other males. However, Gorillas have distress behavior which includes diarrhea and strong, pungent body odor. The female is able to conceive for only about three days each month, and produces a single young and in rare cases twins.

Tourism: Visiting Gorillas is allowed for only one hour with a maximum of six tourists visiting each habituated gorilla group a day.

Safari itineraries are available for Gorilla trips.

WHAT TO CARRY FOR THE GORILLA TRACKING EXPERIENCE!

• For steep muddy slopes, wear Jungle shoes.
• Packed Lunch.
• Carry rain gear/Rain Jacket, a hat and sun screen as the whether is unpredictable as well as insect repellant.
• Ear plugs are a necessity for those who feel un-comfortable with jungle sounds.

Gorilla trekking rules