What is the daily routine of Mountain Gorillas? If this question still lingers in your head, here is a simple guide to a day in the life of a mountain gorilla. Mountain gorillas typically have a structured and predictable daily routine that revolves around finding food, rest, and social interactions. During different times of the day, gorillas engage in different activities as outlined by this guide.
Gorilla trekking is one of the most thought by most travelers when planning their safari to Africa. Acacia Safaris Limited offers well-customized tour packages to Both Uganda and Rwanda that will allow you to engage in gorilla trekking. We will help through the process to make sure your Gorilla trekking safari is a great success.
Here is a general outline of mountain gorillas’ daily activities:
During Morning Hours
Gorillas usually wake up at sunrise at around 6:00 am. They spend the first hour or two feeding on vegetation close to their previous night’s sleep site. Depending on the location and availability of food, they may climb trees to reach leaves or eat from bushes and vines.
A gorilla spends roughly 30% of the day feeding, 30% traveling, and 40% resting, grooming, playing, and fornicating. The gorilla, unlike many other primates, spends most of its time on the ground. They can travel less than a kilometer each day within their native area of around 41 square kilometers in a single foraging day.
After their early meal, mountain gorillas move to a different feeding spot, typically within their home range. They can spend several hours searching for and eating various plant species, including leaves, shoots, stems, fruits, and bamboo.
Around midday, gorillas often take a break and rest. They seek a comfortable spot, sitting or lying down on foliage or the ground in a shaded area. While resting, gorillas engage in social behaviors like grooming, playing, or interacting with their group members.
Afternoon Feeding
After their rest period, gorillas resume their feeding activities. They continue to browse for edible plants, moving slowly through the forest. Mountain gorillas are herbivores, so they primarily rely on vegetation for nutrition.
Evening
As the day comes to a close, gorillas begin to build their sleeping nests. They use vegetation and leaves to construct a comfortable bed on the ground or in trees, usually in a location that provides shelter and protection.
Night
Mountain gorillas typically sleep in their nests throughout the night. They are mainly active during daylight hours, and their sleep patterns are relatively consistent. While sleeping, gorillas may emit vocalizations or snore softly.
It’s worth noting that the specific activities and timings might vary depending on factors such as food availability, weather conditions, and interactions with other gorilla groups in the area. The above routine provides a general overview of a typical day in the lives of mountain gorillas.
Although gorillas are vegetarians, they do eat snails, ants, and bark (which is high in sodium). Their daily diet comprises of roots, leaves, stems, herb pith, vine and shrub pith, and some fruits. Bamboo shoots are also an important element of their nutrition during certain months of the year. A male adult can consume up to 20 kg of food every day.
Reproduction in Gorillas
Female gorillas can have up to four years between pregnancies, guaranteeing modest population expansion. A gorilla’s gestation span is about 8.5 months. Unfortunately, at least 30% of newborns do not survive their first year owing to diseases and accidents. In other circumstances, baby gorillas are killed during takeovers—when their father dies, another silverback takes over. This new male frequently kills all of his predecessor’s offspring, ensuring his genes are passed down to future generations.
When a baby gorilla is born, it weighs about half the weight of a human baby. This baby, on the other hand, grows twice as rapidly. It can walk after 40 weeks and is completely self-sustaining after three years.
Mountain gorilla trekking is a life-changing experience where trekkers hike in the dense forest in East Africa to search for these gentle giants. Gorilla trekking is done in three African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and D. R Congo. The top National Parks for gorilla trekking safaris include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park.
Acacia Safaris Limited offers gorilla trekking adventures that will allow you to experience this life-changing experience. Our well-crafted safari packages also allow you to trek gorillas in several locations within East Africa.