Is Bwindi a Jungle or a Forest?
Eastern Lowland Gorillas : All you need to know about them.
Types of Gorillas – The 4 types of Mountain and Lowland Explained
When most people picture gorillas, they imagine a massive silverback sitting quietly in a misty forest somewhere in East Africa. It’s an iconic image—but it only tells part of the story.
In reality, there are four distinct types of gorillas, each shaped by its own environment, geography, and evolutionary path. These include the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, western lowland gorilla, and the rare Cross River gorilla. Together, they form one of the most fascinating branches of the great ape family.
Understanding the different types of gorillas is more than a matter of curiosity. It’s essential for conservation, travel planning, and appreciating just how adaptable and diverse these animals really are. From the cold, high-altitude forests of East Africa to the humid lowland jungles of Central and West Africa, gorillas have evolved to survive in dramatically different worlds.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know—from classification and habitat to behavior, physical traits, and conservation status.
How Many Types of Gorillas Are There? (Taxonomy Explained)
Scientifically, gorillas belong to the genus Gorilla, within the family Hominidae—the same family as humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
There are two main species of gorillas, each divided into two subspecies:
Eastern Gorillas (Gorilla beringei)
a. Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
b. Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)
Western Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla)
a. Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
b. Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
These four subspecies are what most people refer to when discussing the types of gorillas.
Each one lives in a different region of Africa and has evolved unique physical and behavioral traits based on its environment.
1. Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are the most famous of all gorilla types, largely due to tourism and conservation efforts in East Africa.
They live in high-altitude forests across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the Virunga Mountains of Volcanoes National park in Rwanda, Virunga National park in DR Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. These environments are cool, misty, and densely vegetated, often sitting at elevations between 2,200 and 3,800 meters.
Physically, mountain gorillas are powerful and stocky, with broad chests, shorter limbs, and extremely dense muscle mass. Adult males—known as silverbacks—can weigh up to 200 kilograms. Their thick, long fur is one of their most defining features, helping them survive cold mountain climates.
Unlike other types of gorillas, mountain gorillas rely heavily on leafy vegetation rather than fruit. Their diet includes bamboo shoots, wild celery, nettles, and other herbaceous plants. Because of this, they don’t need to travel long distances and tend to stay within smaller home ranges.
Socially, they live in stable family groups led by a dominant silverback. These groups are tightly bonded, with strong social cohesion and minimal movement between groups.
Despite being endangered, mountain gorillas are considered a conservation success story. Thanks to strict protection, regulated tourism, and veterinary care, their population has slowly increased to just over 1,000 individuals.
2. Eastern Lowland Gorillas
Eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri), also known as Grauer’s gorillas, are the largest of all gorilla types.
They are found exclusively in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in areas like Kahuzi-Biega National Park and surrounding forests. Unlike mountain gorillas, they inhabit lower elevations, typically between 600 and 1,500 meters.
These gorillas are taller and leaner than mountain gorillas, with longer limbs and a slightly less bulky build. Adult males can grow up to 1.8 meters tall, making them the tallest gorilla subspecies.
Their diet is more varied than that of mountain gorillas. While they still consume leaves and stems, they also eat fruits, seeds, and insects when available. This dietary flexibility allows them to move more frequently and cover larger distances in search of food.
Social structures are similar to mountain gorillas but slightly more flexible. Groups are often larger, and individuals—especially females—may transfer between groups.
Unfortunately, eastern lowland gorillas face severe threats. Ongoing conflict in the region, illegal mining, habitat destruction, and poaching have caused dramatic population declines. Today, fewer than 7,000 individuals remain, making them critically endangered
3. Western Lowland Gorillas
Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are the most numerous and widespread of all the types of gorillas.
They inhabit the dense rainforests of Central and West Africa, including countries like Gabon, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. Their habitat consists of lowland tropical forests, swamp forests, and river basins.
Compared to other gorilla types, they are smaller and lighter, with slimmer builds and more agile bodies. Adult males typically weigh around 140 kilograms. Their skulls are also slightly different, with more pronounced brow ridges and narrower faces.
One of their defining traits is their fruit-rich diet. Western lowland gorillas rely heavily on seasonal fruits, which forces them to travel longer distances—sometimes up to 2 kilometers per day. They also consume leaves, bark, seeds, and insects.
Their social groups are generally smaller and less stable than those of eastern gorillas. Group composition can change more frequently, and solitary males are more common.
Despite their relatively large population, western lowland gorillas are critically endangered. Disease outbreaks—especially Ebola—have wiped out entire populations in some regions. Logging, poaching, and habitat fragmentation also continue to pose serious threats.
4. Cross River Gorillas
The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is the rarest and most elusive of all gorilla types.
They are found in a small region along the border of Nigeria and Cameroon, primarily in mountainous and forested areas near the Cross River.
With a population of fewer than 300 individuals, they are critically endangered and extremely difficult to study in the wild.
Physically, they are similar to western lowland gorillas but tend to be slightly smaller, with subtle differences in skull and dental structure. Because they live in rugged, isolated terrain, they are rarely seen and have adapted to avoid human contact.
Very little is known about their behavior compared to other gorilla types, but they are believed to live in small, scattered groups. Habitat fragmentation is one of their biggest challenges, as human settlements and agriculture continue to encroach on their already limited range.
Conservation efforts are ongoing, but their survival remains uncertain due to their small population size and restricted habitat.
Key Differences Between the Types of Gorillas
| Type of Gorilla | Habitat | Physical Traits | Diet | Behavior & Traits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Gorilla | High-altitude forests (East Africa) | Thick fur, stocky, very muscular | Mostly leaves and vegetation | Stable groups, less movement, highly social |
| Eastern Lowland Gorilla | Lowland forests (DR Congo) | Largest gorilla, tall, leaner build | Mixed diet (leaves, fruits, insects) | Flexible groups, moderate movement |
| Western Lowland Gorilla | Tropical lowland forests (Central & West Africa) | Smaller, lighter, more agile | Fruit-heavy diet | Highly mobile, smaller and less stable groups |
| Cross River Gorilla | Remote forests (Nigeria/Cameroon border) | Similar to western lowland, slightly smaller | Mixed diet | Very rare, isolated, least studied |
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Quick Rule of Thumb
- High altitude = Mountain gorillas
- Low altitude = Lowland gorillas
Why Understanding the Types of Gorillas Matters
Knowing the different types of gorillas isn’t just academic—it has real-world implications.
Each subspecies faces unique conservation challenges. What works to protect mountain gorillas in Uganda may not work for western lowland gorillas in Gabon or Cross River gorillas in Nigeria.
For travelers, understanding these differences also shapes expectations. Gorilla trekking in East Africa, for example, offers a completely different experience compared to lowland gorilla tracking in Central Africa.
Most importantly, recognizing this diversity highlights the importance of protecting all gorilla populations—not just the ones we see most often.
Gorillas are not a single, uniform species. They are a diverse group of great apes, each adapted to its own environment and facing its own challenges.
From the mist-covered mountains of East Africa to the dense lowland forests of Central and West Africa, the four types of gorillas represent one of nature’s most remarkable evolutionary stories.
If you’re planning a trek, studying wildlife, or simply expanding your knowledge, understanding the types of gorillas gives you a deeper appreciation of these powerful, intelligent, and endangered animals.