Mountain Gorilla Diet | What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat?
The mountain gorilla diet consists mainly of leaves, stems, shoots, herbs and other vegetation. Although mountain gorillas also eat fruits when available, fruit makes up a much smaller part of their diet compared with that of some other great apes.
Living at high elevations in the forests of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo means that mountain gorillas have access to abundant vegetation but relatively fewer fruiting trees. Their diet has therefore adapted to the plant species available within their natural habitat.
Mountain gorillas occasionally consume roots, tree bark and small invertebrates such as ants, termites and bee larvae. However, they are primarily herbivores and do not eat meat.
They spend a significant part of each day searching for, selecting and eating vegetation to obtain the energy and nutrients they need.
What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat?
The mountain gorilla diet includes a wide variety of plant foods. Their exact food choices depend on what is available in their habitat and the season.
The main components include:
- Leaves and stems
- Bamboo shoots
- Young shoots and pith
- Fruits
- Roots and tubers
- Tree bark
- Herbs and flowers
- Small invertebrates
- Soil and minerals
Mountain gorillas have been observed feeding on numerous plant species, making them highly adaptable foragers within their forest habitats.
If you’re interested in the environments where these animals find their food, learn more about Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
Leaves and Stems
Leaves and stems form the largest part of the mountain gorilla diet.
The source article estimates that around 85% of their diet consists of leaves and stems from numerous plant species, including bamboo, wild celery, nettles, thistles and gallium. These foods provide fiber, proteins, vitamins and other nutrients required for maintaining their large bodies.
Gorillas are selective feeders. They often choose younger, softer leaves and shoots because these are easier to chew and digest.
Their powerful hands allow them to strip leaves from stems and manipulate vegetation with remarkable precision.
Bamboo Shoots and Pith
Bamboo shoots are an important food for mountain gorillas, particularly when they are seasonally abundant.
Gorillas use their hands to access the shoots and remove the tougher outer layers before consuming the softer inner sections.
They also feed on pith from various plants, carefully removing the harder outer material to reach the softer interior.
This is particularly relevant in the Virunga region, where bamboo forms part of the vegetation available to gorillas.
Do Mountain Gorillas Eat Fruit?
Yes, mountain gorillas eat fruit, but fruit generally represents a smaller part of their diet than leaves, stems and shoots.
Because mountain gorillas live in high-altitude forests where fruit can be relatively scarce, they depend much more heavily on foliage.
During periods when fruits are available, however, gorillas take advantage of them. Their fruit choices can include:
- Wild berries
- Figs
- Banana-like fruits
- Guava and other fleshy fruits
- Other tree fruits
The availability of these foods changes according to season and location.
For a broader comparison of what gorillas consume and how much they eat, see our guide on how much gorillas eat in a day.
Do Mountain Gorillas Eat Roots and Tree Bark?
Yes. Roots and tree bark can become important supplementary foods when other vegetation is less abundant.
These foods provide additional fiber and minerals that complement the nutrients obtained from leaves, shoots and stems.
Gorillas use their powerful fingers and hands to dig into the ground and access roots and tubers.
Do Mountain Gorillas Eat Insects?
Although mountain gorillas are primarily herbivores, they occasionally consume small invertebrates.
These may include:
- Ants
- Termites
- Snails
- Bee larvae
They may also ingest small amounts of soil while feeding. This behavior, known as geophagy, may provide additional minerals and potentially assist with processing some plant material.
However, insects are only a very small part of the mountain gorilla diet.
What Do Baby Mountain Gorillas Eat?
Baby mountain gorillas initially depend on their mothers’ milk.
During their first months, breast milk provides the nutrients and antibodies necessary for growth and development. As they become older, young gorillas gradually begin experimenting with solid foods while observing and copying the feeding behavior of adults.
Young gorillas eventually begin eating softer leaves, shoots, fruits and other available foods.
The transition from milk to solid foods happens gradually, with weaning extending over several years according to the source material.
How Do Mountain Gorillas Get Their Food?
Mountain gorillas are highly skilled foragers.
They spend many hours each day moving through their habitat, identifying suitable plants and selecting the most nutritious parts.
When feeding on leaves and stems, they use their hands to strip vegetation and often select younger, softer growth.
When feeding on bamboo, gorillas can pull shoots from the ground and peel away the tougher exterior to access the softer interior.
During fruiting seasons, younger gorillas may climb trees to access fruit, while adults can use their strength to pull branches closer.
They can also dig into the ground to access roots and tubers and break into decaying wood or soil to find insects.
How Long Do Mountain Gorillas Spend Feeding?
Feeding is one of the most important activities in a mountain gorilla’s daily routine.
The source material indicates that mountain gorillas can spend approximately 8 to 10 hours foraging and feeding each day. Their daily routine generally includes feeding, resting, moving between feeding areas and socializing.
Their day typically begins with an intensive morning feeding period after spending the night resting.
They may then rest before moving to another area to continue feeding, followed by another rest period and additional feeding later in the day.
How Do Mountain Gorillas Choose Their Feeding Sites?
Mountain gorillas don’t simply eat wherever they happen to be.
They select feeding areas based on the availability, abundance and quality of vegetation.
For example, when bamboo is plentiful, gorillas may move toward areas containing large concentrations of bamboo. During fruiting periods, they may similarly seek areas where fruit-bearing plants are abundant.
Their movements can also be influenced by the presence of other gorilla groups, as groups may avoid areas already occupied by other groups to reduce competition over food resources.
Do Mountain Gorillas Eat Meat?
No, mountain gorillas do not eat meat.
Mountain gorillas are primarily herbivorous and depend mainly on vegetation such as leaves, stems, shoots, fruits, flowers, roots and bark.
Although they may occasionally consume insects, this does not make meat a normal component of their diet.
This is one reason why the enormous size and strength of gorillas often surprise visitors. They obtain the nutrients needed to build their large bodies primarily from plants.
How Do Gorillas Get So Big Without Eating Meat?
Gorillas have evolved digestive systems capable of processing large amounts of fibrous vegetation.
Their plant-based diet provides the nutrients and energy they require, while their digestive system helps them extract value from foods that many other animals cannot efficiently process.
They also consume large quantities of vegetation each day, allowing them to obtain enough energy despite the relatively low caloric density of many plant foods.
For another look at the feeding habits of adult males, see our article about the silverback gorilla diet.
Do Mountain Gorillas Drink Water?
Mountain gorillas obtain much of their hydration from the vegetation they consume.
Moisture-rich plants such as shoots and leaves can provide a significant amount of the water they need. They may occasionally drink directly from natural water sources, particularly when environmental conditions reduce the moisture available from food.
Read our dedicated guide on what mountain gorillas drink to learn more about their hydration habits.
Mountain Gorilla Diet and Their Natural Habitat
The mountain gorilla diet is closely connected to where these animals live.
Mountain gorillas inhabit high-altitude forests within the Virunga Massif and the Bwindi ecosystem. These environments provide a rich variety of leaves, stems, bamboo, shoots and other vegetation.
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is one of the world’s most important destinations for seeing mountain gorillas, while Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is another major mountain gorilla habitat.
This relationship between habitat and diet is important because changes in vegetation availability can influence where gorilla groups move and feed.
Mountain Gorilla Diet and Gorilla Trekking
Understanding what mountain gorillas eat can make a gorilla trekking experience even more fascinating.
During a trek, visitors may observe gorillas feeding on leaves, stripping stems, chewing bamboo shoots, resting after feeding or moving between feeding areas.
If you’re planning to see these animals in Rwanda, our 2026 Ultimate Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda explains everything from trekking logistics and preparation to what you can expect when visiting mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
You can also read our Top Gorilla Trekking Tips before your trek, particularly if this will be your first encounter with mountain gorillas.
Mountain Gorilla Diet FAQs
What do mountain gorillas eat?
Mountain gorillas primarily eat leaves, stems, shoots, herbs and other vegetation. They also consume fruits, roots, bark and small amounts of invertebrates depending on availability.
How much food does a mountain gorilla eat per day?
The source material states that an adult mountain gorilla can consume approximately 18–30 kilograms of vegetation per day, although the exact amount varies according to age, weight and food availability.
Do mountain gorillas eat meat?
No. Mountain gorillas are primarily herbivores and do not hunt or eat meat. They may occasionally consume small invertebrates such as ants and termites.
What is a mountain gorilla’s favorite food?
Mountain gorillas particularly feed on vegetation such as leaves, wild celery, bamboo shoots and thistles. Fruits are also eaten when seasonally available.
Do mountain gorillas eat bananas?
Mountain gorillas can eat banana-like fruits when these are naturally available in their habitat, but their diet is dominated by leaves, stems and shoots.
Do mountain gorillas eat insects?
Yes. They occasionally consume small invertebrates such as ants, termites, snails and bee larvae, although these make up only a very small portion of their diet.
Do mountain gorillas drink water?
Mountain gorillas obtain much of their hydration from moisture-rich vegetation and may occasionally drink from natural water sources. See our full guide to what mountain gorillas drink.
Why do mountain gorillas eat so much?
Their food is largely made up of fibrous plant material, so they need to consume substantial quantities to obtain sufficient energy and nutrients.
How does the mountain gorilla diet change with the seasons?
The availability of different foods changes throughout the year. During fruiting periods, gorillas may consume more fruit, while leaves, stems and other vegetation remain important throughout the year.
Final Thoughts on the Mountain Gorilla Diet
The mountain gorilla diet is a fascinating example of how wildlife adapts to its environment. Despite their enormous size and strength, mountain gorillas survive primarily on vegetation.
Leaves, stems, shoots and other plant materials provide the foundation of their diet, while fruits, roots, bark and occasional invertebrates supplement their nutritional needs.
Their feeding behavior is also closely connected to their habitat. From the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park to the dense vegetation of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, mountain gorillas spend much of their day searching for and consuming the foods available in their environment.
If you want to see these remarkable animals in their natural habitat, explore our Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda guide or browse our gorilla trekking safari packages to start planning your experience.