Updated
Gorillas cannot swim. Like chimpanzees and other great apes, they lack the body build and buoyancy that make swimming easy, and they have never been seen swimming in the wild. They avoid deep water, and rivers can act as barriers to their movement. They will, however, wade through shallow streams and swamps, sometimes upright, and western lowland gorillas have even been filmed using a stick to test water depth.
Why gorillas cannot swim
Gorillas are heavy, with dense muscle and bone and relatively little body fat, so they sink easily. Their long arms and short legs suit climbing and knuckle-walking rather than paddling. Unlike humans, they do not learn to swim, and in zoos, water moats are used as barriers because gorillas will not cross them, though some gorillas have drowned after falling into deep water.
Gorillas and water in the wild
Mountain gorillas get most of their water from the plants they eat and rarely drink. In Bwindi they cross small streams, often on fallen logs or by wading. Western lowland gorillas in Congo visit swampy forest clearings to feed on water plants, wading up to their waists.
Gorillas and water on a trek
On a trek, you may see gorillas avoid streams or cross carefully, and rangers sometimes find families on the far side of a river. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to how gorillas sleep, gorilla behaviours, top gorilla questions and how many mountain gorillas are left.
Frequently asked questions
No, gorillas cannot swim and avoid deep water.
Yes, they wade through shallow streams and swamps.
Rarely; they get most of their water from plants.
Because gorillas will not cross deep water.
