What a silverback is, how big it grows, what it eats and how you can meet one on foot in Uganda or Rwanda.
“Silverback” is not a species. It is the name for a mature male gorilla, whose black back hair turns silvery-grey as he reaches adulthood, usually around twelve to fourteen years of age. A silverback leads a family group, protects it, decides where it feeds and rests, and settles disputes. For travellers, seeing a silverback sitting calmly among his family in a misty forest is often described as the most moving wildlife encounter in Africa.
Below you will find the answers to the most common questions: how heavy and how tall a silverback is, how strong he is, what he eats and how you can see one in the wild.
Quick FactsRoughly 140 to 200 kilograms for a mountain gorilla silverback; females weigh about half as much.
About 1.5 to 1.8 metres when standing upright, with an arm span that can exceed 2 metres.
Mainly leaves, stems, shoots and fruit. A male can eat many kilograms of vegetation a day.
Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda, and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
An adult male mountain gorilla typically weighs somewhere between 140 and 200 kilograms, though individuals vary and published figures differ between studies. Females are much smaller, often around 70 to 100 kilograms. Among all gorillas, the eastern lowland (Grauer’s) gorilla is generally the largest subspecies, and large males can exceed the weights of mountain gorillas. Weights fluctuate with season and food supply, and wild gorillas are rarely weighed, so figures are estimates.
When walking on all fours, a silverback’s shoulder height is about one metre. Standing upright, which gorillas do only briefly for display or to look around, a big male may reach 1.5 to 1.8 metres. The arm span can be noticeably longer than the height of the body. Because gorillas rarely stand for long, height figures are approximate.
Gorillas are far stronger than humans of similar size, although exact comparisons are hard to measure. Their strength lies in the arms, shoulders and jaws, which they use to tear bamboo, climb and break branches. Despite their power, mountain gorillas are generally calm and gentle in the presence of respectful observers. Dramatic chest-beating displays are usually warnings, not attacks. Our guide to gorilla safety and behaviour on trek is covered in the Bwindi trekking guide.
A gorilla group, often called a troop or family, usually contains a dominant silverback, several females, their young, and sometimes a few younger males called blackbacks. The silverback keeps order, shares meals peacefully and defends the group against rivals. When a silverback dies, the group can break up or be taken over by another male. Infants stay with their mothers for several years, and trackers recognise individual gorillas by nose-print patterns, much like human fingerprints.
Mountain gorillas are mostly herbivores, eating leaves, stems, shoots, roots and bamboo, with occasional fruit and insects. They spend much of the day feeding and resting, and build fresh nests of vegetation each night.
Mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga Mountains (Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Trekking is done in small groups with a ranger, with a strict viewing time of around one hour and a minimum distance guideline. Permits are limited and must be booked in advance; see our gorilla permits guide for current information and the first-timer’s journal article for what to expect. For how mountain gorillas differ from other gorillas, read our eastern lowland gorilla guide.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA silverback is a mature male gorilla whose back hair has turned silvery-grey with age. He leads a family group.
A mountain gorilla silverback usually weighs about 140 to 200 kilograms, with variation between individuals.
Standing upright, a large male may be about 1.5 to 1.8 metres tall.
Habituated mountain gorillas are calm when approached according to ranger rules. Charges are rare and are usually bluffs, but visitors must follow guidance.
Mountain gorillas can be trekked in Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda and in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
We secure permits and design the lodges and logistics around your trek.
