What Do Gorillas eat? A Close Look at the Mountain Gorilla Diet

If you’ve ever found yourself planning an African safari or watching a wildlife documentary, you’ve likely been impressed at the size of a silverback gorilla. Standing up to six feet tall and weighing over 400 pounds, these gentle giants are the definition of raw strength. Looking at their muscular bodies, it’s only natural to ask: what do gorillas eat?

You might think that an animal of that size requires a heavy, protein-packed carnivorous diet to maintain it. However, the answer to what do gorillas eat? is surprising. Mountain gorillas are almost entirely vegetarian, spending nearly half of their days foraging, chewing, and digesting a massive amount of green plants.

The Ultimate Salad Bar: Rwanda’s Cloud Forests

Unlike lowland gorillas who mostly eat sweet, juicy fruits down in the valleys, the mountain gorillas living in the high-altitude Virunga Mountains have a much more specialized menu. In Rwanda, fruit trees are incredibly scarce at elevations of 10,000 feet. Instead, when exploring the question of what do gorillas eat? in this specific sub-alpine region, the answer comes down to a rich variety of around 38 different plant species.

Their favorites include wild celery, thistles, wood, roots, and succulent bamboo shoots.

A Massive Daily Intake

Because a plant-based diet is relatively low in calories and nutrients, gorillas have to consume alot of food to fuel their giant bodies. This brings us to another fascinating layer of what do gorillas eat?

An adult male silverback can easily eat up to 40 pounds (around 18 kilograms) of vegetation every single day. To process this mountain of fiber, gorillas have evolved large, specialized stomachs and incredibly strong chewing muscles.

Do They Ever Drink Water?

If you spend an hour sitting quietly with a gorilla family on a trek with Beyond Kigali Tours, you will almost never see them stop for a drink. This phenomenon is directly tied to what do gorillas eat?—the plants and morning dew they consume are filled with so much moisture that the primates stay completely hydrated just by eating their regular meals.

They will, however, occasionally eat small insects like ants or termites for a quick burst of minerals, though this makes up less than 1% of their overall food intake. Sometimes, they even ingest small patches of soil, which scientists believe helps neutralize natural toxins found in certain plants.

Experience the Magic Firsthand

Understanding the dietary habits of these incredible primates gives us a deeper appreciation for the delicate ecosystems they call home. When you are ready to venture into the mist and see these majestic herbivores in action, Beyond Kigali Tours is here to guide your journey.