Mountain Gorilla Population & Habitat Guide
The mountain gorilla population has slowly increased thanks to strong conservation efforts. As of 2024, there are about 1,063 mountain gorillas left in the rainforests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is the highest recorded number since conservation programs began.
Even with this progress, mountain gorillas remain critically endangered. Their slow population growth is caused by poaching, habitat destruction, diseases, and a low reproduction rate.
According to a 2018 IUCN report, mountain gorillas are among the most endangered primates due to habitat loss, disease, and poaching. They are herbivores and feed on leaves, roots, bamboo shoots, flowers, and fruits. An adult gorilla eats about 18 to 30 kilograms of vegetation per day. They spend most of their day eating to stay strong.
They live in high-altitude areas between 8,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level, mostly in montane and bamboo forests. They are social animals that live in families led by a silverback. The silverback protects the group, mates with the females, and decides where the group feeds and rests.
Mountain gorillas usually stay on the ground, building their nests there, although they can also climb trees when necessary.
The best time to trek mountain gorillas is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February. During these months, the trails are less slippery, making the climb easier.
Gorilla trekking is an activity where tourists walk through the dense forest in search of mountain gorillas. It begins in the morning at around 7:00 am, when gorillas are active, feeding, and playing.
Tourists first attend a briefing at the park headquarters about trekking rules. They are then divided into groups of eight, each led by a park ranger. The trek can take between 2 and 6 hours, depending on where the gorillas are found. Once located, tourists are allowed to spend only one hour with them.
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