Updated 20 October 2026

Good gorilla stories for children include Katherine Applegate’s novel The One and Only Ivan for ages 8–12, short clips of David Attenborough’s 1978 gorilla encounter for all ages, and, for teenagers, the film Gorillas in the Mist and the documentary Virunga. Free classroom materials from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Gorilla Doctors explain the science.

Stories work best when they lead to real facts and, if you are travelling to Uganda, to something children can see and do there. This guide suggests books, films and activities by age, and explains which parts of a gorilla trip children can join.

Young children (under 8)

For the youngest, look for non-fiction picture books with real photographs of gorillas in the forest, eating, nesting, playing and caring for babies, rather than cartoon gorillas in zoos or cities. Libraries usually have several in their animal series. Pair them with a short video of a gorilla family, and talk about simple ideas: gorillas live in families, eat plants, build a new bed every night and can catch our colds. Our guide to mountain gorilla facts gives you accurate answers to the questions children ask.

Ages 8–12

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and later a Disney film, tells the story of a gorilla kept in a shopping-mall enclosure and based on a real gorilla. It opens good conversations about the difference between captive and wild animals, and why mountain gorillas are protected in their forests instead. Children’s biographies of Dian Fossey, the scientist who studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda, show how one person’s work changed how the world sees gorillas.

In 1978, David Attenborough filmed mountain gorillas in Rwanda for the BBC series Life on Earth, and the scene in which young gorillas clamber over him is one of the best-known moments in wildlife television. Clips are easy to find online and work for all ages. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Gorilla Doctors both publish free educational material on their websites, from activity sheets to explanations of how vets treat wild gorillas.

Teenagers

Gorillas in the Mist (1988), starring Sigourney Weaver as Dian Fossey, is a moving introduction to gorilla conservation and its human cost; it includes poaching scenes and is rated for older children. The documentary Virunga (2014) follows rangers protecting mountain gorillas in DR Congo’s Virunga National Park amid armed conflict and threats from oil exploration, and is powerful but intense. Both are best watched together, with time to talk afterwards. Read about Gorillas in the Mist and its legacy.

Turning stories into action

Children often want to do something after a good story. Simple ideas include adopting a gorilla through a conservation charity, raising money at school for a gorilla project, giving a class presentation, or recycling old mobile phones, which links to the mining of coltan in eastern Congo near gorilla habitat. Choose organisations that explain clearly what the money does, such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Gorilla Doctors or Conservation Through Public Health in Uganda.

If you are visiting Uganda as a family

The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, so younger children cannot join the trek itself. They can still have a great trip: golden monkey tracking in Mgahinga and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale are usually open from age 12, while boat trips, game drives, community walks and the Batwa cultural experience suit all ages. In Entebbe, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre is an easy first stop where children can see rescued animals and learn about conservation. See our guides to gorilla trekking with families and who can go gorilla trekking.

Teenagers of 15 and over who have read and watched about gorillas often get far more from the hour, because they recognise behaviours and understand why the rules exist. A gorilla permit costs US$800 (US$600 in April, May and November), the same for teenagers as for adults.

Frequently asked questions