Mountain Gorilla Height: How Tall Are These Gentle Giants?
Mountain Gorilla Height: A male mountain gorilla stands about 1.6 to 1.8 metres (roughly 5.3 to 6 feet) tall when upright, with the average fully erect silverback reaching around 1.7 metres (5.6 feet), while females are smaller at about 1.5 metres (5 feet).
On all fours, which is how mountain gorillas spend almost all of their time, an adult male’s shoulder height is much lower, commonly given as around 1.2 to 1.5 metres, so the height you see in a photograph depends heavily on how the gorilla is standing.
Height, though, is only part of the picture: a silverback’s arm span reaches about 2 to 2.7 metres, and an adult male can weigh well over 150 kilograms, which is why a gorilla that is no taller than a tall human looks so enormous in the forest.
This guide explains mountain gorilla height in detail: how tall silverbacks, females and infants are, how that compares with people, the tallest gorilla ever recorded, how size helps gorillas live in the Virunga and Bwindi forests, and how you can see these giants for yourself on a gorilla trek in Rwanda.
Mountain Gorilla Height at a Glance
| Measurement | Adult Male (Silverback) | Adult Female |
|---|---|---|
| Standing height | About 1.6 to 1.8 m (5.3 to 6 ft) | About 1.5 m (5 ft) |
| Average when fully erect | About 1.7 m (5.6 ft) | Shorter than males |
| Height on all fours (shoulder) | Commonly given as about 1.2 to 1.5 m | Lower |
| Arm span | About 2 to 2.7 m (6.6 to 8.9 ft) | Shorter |
| Weight | Roughly 120 to 200 kg (265 to 440 lb) | Roughly 70 to 100 kg (154 to 220 lb) |
| Infant weight at birth | About 2 kg (4.4 lb) | About 2 kg |
Figures are ranges from published field and reference measurements and vary by individual, age and how the measurement was taken. Mountain gorillas rarely stand fully upright for long, so exact standing heights are hard to measure in the wild.
Mountain Gorilla Height Measurements: Standing vs. On All Fours
A mountain gorilla moves by knuckle-walking, resting its weight on the backs of its fingers, so most of the time it is on all fours, with its shoulders far lower than its full standing height.
When it rises onto its hind legs, usually to look around, display, or reach for food, it stretches to its full stature of roughly 1.6 to 1.8 metres in an adult male.
This explains why you will see different numbers quoted for mountain gorilla height. A figure of 1.2 to 1.5 metres usually describes a gorilla’s body height on all fours, while 1.6 to 1.8 metres describes an upright male. Neither is wrong; they measure different postures.
Wild gorillas are also never measured with a ruler, so published figures come from estimates, photographs and, historically, specimens, which is another reason the ranges overlap.
The Tallest Gorilla Ever Recorded
The tallest gorilla on record was a silverback measured at about 1.95 metres (6 feet 5 inches) tall, with a chest of about 1.98 metres, an arm span of about 2.7 metres and a weight of about 219 kilograms. It was shot in northern Kivu in eastern DR Congo, in the region where mountain gorillas and their relatives live.
Two cautions apply. First, this is a historical record from the hunting era, not a modern measurement taken from a living animal, so it should be read as a record of an exceptional individual rather than a target figure. Second, it is not a typical height: the average silverback is shorter, at around 1.7 metres.
Heavier gorillas have also been recorded, but they belonged to other gorilla populations, not mountain gorillas, which is why mountain gorillas are best described as large and powerful rather than the heaviest gorillas of all.
The Height of the Silverback Gorilla
Silverbacks are mature adult males, named for the saddle of silver-grey hair that appears on their backs as they age, and they usually lead each mountain gorilla family. A typical silverback stands about 1.6 to 1.8 metres tall when upright and weighs roughly 140 to 200 kilograms, though individuals vary.
A silverback’s size matters for the group:
- Protection. His bulk and strength deter rivals and threats.
- Authority. Height and bulk help him assert dominance without constant fighting.
- Display. Standing tall, chest-beating and charging displays communicate strength and usually settle disputes without violence.
Blackbacks, the younger adult males, are smaller and have not yet developed the silver saddle, while females and juveniles are noticeably smaller still. When you meet a family on a gorilla trek, the silverback’s size is one of the first things guides point out, and seeing him in person is the clearest way to appreciate how large he is.
Mountain Gorilla Height vs. Human Height
| Height | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult male human | About 1.7 to 1.8 m (5.6 to 5.9 ft) | About 70 to 90 kg |
| Adult female human | About 1.6 to 1.65 m (5.2 to 5.4 ft) | About 55 to 70 kg |
| Silverback mountain gorilla | About 1.6 to 1.8 m (5.3 to 6 ft) | About 140 to 200 kg |
| Female mountain gorilla | About 1.5 m (5 ft) | About 70 to 100 kg |
Standing upright, a silverback is about as tall as an average man, but he weighs two to three times as much and has an arm span much wider than a person’s. That gap in build, not height, is what makes a gorilla seem so large: broad shoulders, a deep chest, thick limbs and a massive head and neck packed onto a frame of similar height.
On a trek, the rangers will tell you how close you may approach, and you will usually be keeping a respectful distance of several metres from a gorilla that could easily outweigh and outmuscle several people combined.
Mountain Gorilla Size and Weight Beyond Height
Height is only one measure of mountain gorilla size:
- Weight. Adult males typically weigh about 120 to 200 kilograms and females about 70 to 100 kilograms.
- Arm span. Gorillas’ arms are longer than their legs, and an adult male’s arm span can reach about 2 to 2.7 metres, well beyond his standing height.
- Strength. Their muscular build lets them tear through tough vegetation and, in the case of silverbacks, defend a family.
- Growth. A newborn weighs only about 2 kilograms, comparable to a small baby, and takes many years to reach adult size, with males reaching full silverback size later than females reach maturity.
How Does Height Help Mountain Gorillas Adapt to Their Habitat?
Mountain gorillas live in cool, high-altitude forest on steep, uneven ground in the Virunga volcanoes and in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and their build suits that terrain:
- Strength and stature on steep slopes. A robust, muscular body and long arms help them move over rough, sloping, sometimes rocky forest floors.
- Reaching food. Their height and long arms let them pull down leaves, stems and shoots and reach vegetation that smaller animals cannot, which is important because their diet is overwhelmingly plant-based.
- Visibility. Standing upright lets a silverback survey his surroundings and watch for threats.
- Display and defence. A large body is a visual deterrent that often prevents conflict.
Gorilla height is a useful adaptation, but it is not the whole story: mountain gorillas also have thick fur that helps them in cold, wet conditions, and strong jaws and digestive systems suited to fibrous plants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mountain Gorillas
How tall is a mountain gorilla? An adult male stands about 1.6 to 1.8 metres (5.3 to 6 feet) when upright, averaging around 1.7 metres, and females are about 1.5 metres (5 feet). On all fours, their body height is much lower.
How tall is a silverback gorilla? A silverback typically stands about 1.6 to 1.8 metres upright and weighs roughly 140 to 200 kilograms, though individual silverbacks vary.
How much does a mountain gorilla weigh? Adult males weigh roughly 120 to 200 kilograms and females about 70 to 100 kilograms. Newborns weigh about 2 kilograms.
What is the tallest gorilla ever recorded? A silverback measured at about 1.95 metres, with an arm span of about 2.7 metres and a weight of about 219 kilograms, recorded from northern Kivu in eastern DR Congo. It is a historical record, not a typical size.
How cold is it where mountain gorillas live? Mountain gorillas live in high-altitude forest where it is cool and often wet. Daytime temperatures are commonly in the mid-teens to low twenties degrees Celsius, and nights can drop close to freezing at the higher altitudes of the Virunga volcanoes, with conditions varying by altitude and season. Pack warm, waterproof layers for any trek.
Can mountain gorillas climb high? Yes. Mountain gorillas are mainly ground-dwelling, but they are capable climbers and will climb trees or steep slopes to feed, rest or reach safety, particularly younger gorillas, although adult males are heavy and generally stay lower than lighter primates like chimpanzees.
What are a gorilla’s main threats? Rather than a physical weakness, the main threats to mountain gorillas are habitat loss from human expansion, diseases transmitted from people, snares and poaching, and the loss of a silverback, which can disrupt a family group.
Conservation and tourism revenue are a major part of the response, which is why gorilla trekking permit fees directly support protection and local communities.
Why don’t gorillas eat meat? Gorillas are mainly herbivores, with digestive systems built to break down fibrous plant material such as leaves, stems, shoots and fruit. They sometimes eat insects, but meat is not a meaningful part of their diet.
How many mountain gorillas are left? Roughly 1,063 mountain gorillas remain, split between the Virunga massif, which spans Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, and their numbers have grown thanks to sustained conservation work.
See Mountain Gorillas for Yourself in Rwanda
No photograph or article conveys the size of a silverback the way standing in the forest does. In Rwanda, mountain gorilla trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park, about two to three hours’ drive from Kigali, where 12 habituated gorilla families can be visited. Only 8 visitors are allowed with each family per day, which caps the park at 96 permits a day, so permits are limited and worth booking early.
A Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD 1,500 per person for foreign non-residents and gives you one hour with a gorilla family, guided by expert rangers; the minimum age is 15.
Roughly 10% of permit revenue goes to community projects around the park, which is part of why mountain gorilla numbers have recovered.
Read our guides to Rwanda gorilla permit availability, the rules and guidelines for gorilla trekking, and the Virunga Mountains, the volcanic range that shelters more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas.
Best time for gorilla trekking. The two dry seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, offer firmer, drier trails, though treks operate year-round. Browse the Rwanda tourism guide for planning advice.
Gorilla Trekking Safaris With Trek Rwanda Gorillas
Whether you want a quick trip or a longer adventure, we build gorilla safaris around the experience of meeting a silverback:
- A classic one-day trek. See our 1-day Rwanda gorilla trekking option.
- Two gorilla families. If one hour is not enough, our 4-day Rwanda double gorilla trekking safari takes you to two different habituated families on two days.
- Luxury and budget options. Compare our luxury gorilla trekking Rwanda packages with our budget travel guide to Rwanda.
- Gorillas plus Big Five wildlife. Combine your trek with Akagera National Park, and plan with our safari destinations in Rwanda and tourist attractions in Rwanda.
- Rwanda and Uganda together. Our 12-day Rwanda and Uganda safari pairs Volcanoes National Park with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where the gorilla permit costs USD 800. Explore more of our Uganda safaris, including the 4 days Bwindi gorillas and Kibale chimpanzees, the 8-day Uganda primate safari and the 14 days Uganda wildlife safari.
- Photography. If you want to capture a silverback’s size, see our Rwanda photography safari and our Rwanda lodge booking tips.
Come Meet the Gorillas With Us
Knowing how tall a mountain gorilla stands is one thing. Looking up at a silverback two to three times your weight, calm and unhurried in the bamboo forest, is something you will remember for life.
At Trek Rwanda Gorillas, we plan the whole gorilla safari for you, from your permit for Volcanoes National Park to your guides, your lodge and your transfers, so all you need to do is show up and look up.
We have been taking travellers to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and beyond for years, and we operate under official Rwanda Development Board licensing, so every permit and itinerary meets the country’s standards.
Don’t leave it to chance: gorilla permits are limited every day and the dry-season dates sell out first. Contact our team today to check availability, choose your itinerary, and book your gorilla trek, and come see for yourself just how tall a mountain gorilla stands.
