Understand gorillas. Protect their future.
Sourced guides to gorilla life, research explained in plain language, and conservation news checked against official sources.
A gorilla family feeding in montane forest.
Mountain gorilla
Gorilla beringei beringei
Grauer’s gorilla
Gorilla beringei graueri
Western lowland gorilla
Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Cross River gorilla
Gorilla gorilla diehli
Status: IUCN Red List. Population figures are the most recent published estimates; see each species guide for sources.
A field guide to gorilla life
From how a silverback keeps the peace to why a mountain gorilla eats up to 30 kg of plants a day. Each topic gathers our sourced explainers in reading order.
- Behavior and family lifeTroops, silverbacks, chest-beating and how gorillas communicate.
- Habitat and rangeMontane, bamboo and lowland forests across ten African countries.
- Diet and ecologyLeaves, stems, fruit and the role gorillas play as seed dispersers.
- Anatomy and strengthSize, weight, knuckle-walking and what a gorilla’s body is built for.
- Life cycleBirth, infancy, growing up and how long gorillas live.
- ConservationThreats, population counts and what is working in the field.
- Gorilla trekkingPermits, costs, fitness and choosing an ethical operator.
Planning a gorilla trek
Gorilla Trekking: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Plan a first gorilla trek with confidence: permits, destinations, fitness, ethics, packing and what the day actually feels like.
Best Time for Gorilla Trekking: Weather, Crowds and Value
A month-by-month decision guide to gorilla trekking weather, trail conditions, crowds, photography and low-season permit value.
Gorilla Trekking Costs and Permit Prices: A Transparent Budget Guide
Current official permit prices, hidden trip costs and a practical budget framework for Uganda and Rwanda—verified August 2026.
Research desk
New studies, explained with their limits. All research
Conservation news
Verified updates from parks, rangers and scientists. All news
How we keep this field guide honest
Evidence first
Our standard: guides cite primary research, park authorities and the IUCN. Editorial standards
Corrected in the open
When the science changes or we get something wrong, we update the page and say so. Corrections policy
Gorillas first
Welfare-aware language and imagery, and trekking advice that puts the animals ahead of the photo. Authors and reviewers