The two mountain populations, one in the Virunga Volcanoes area on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and the other in the Bwindi National Park in Uganda, belong to the Eastern group, which changes their classification to Gorilla Beringei Beringei. After chimpanzees, gorillas are our closest relatives and share about 97.7% of our DNA. Mountain gorillas are the largest living primates, an adult male weighing up to 180 kilograms (400 pounds), with an arm span of about two meters (seven feet). They have longer, thicker fur than Lowland gorillas and a slightly different nose shape among other skeletal differences.

Mountain gorillas do not survive in captivity, which is why they are not seen in zoos. Tracking the mountain gorilla through the misty forests requires patience and stamina, often walking for hours in the mud and the wet. Finally meeting them in the undergrowth is an inspiring moment. Quietly chewing away at their vegetarian delicacies, they seem like a marooned human family. The tender grooming and firm disciplining of their offspring seems all too familiar. The gorilla family cast a wary glance at the sudden human intrusion into their private world, but is comforted by the clucking made by the trackers. When provoked, the noisy but harmless silverback grunts, screeches, bares his fangs and beats his chest, before slithering off with attendant females, offspring and other mature males.

To find out more about the History of the mountain gorilla click here

Specific Safaris

Gorillas can be seen on a number of Volcanoes scheduled safaris including:
Classic Uganda and Rwanda (UGS1)
Gorillas in Bwindi (UGS3)
Classic Rwanda and Uganda (RWS2)
Gorillas in PNV, Rwanda (RWS4)
Gorillas in the Virungas and Bwindi (RWS1)

They can also be seen on the following tailor-made safaris:
Gorillas, Wildlife and Chimps (U2)
Gorillas and Wildlife in Lake Mburo, Bwindi and QE (U9)
Gorillas in PNV and Southern Bwindi (R3)
Discover Rwanda (R7)