3.4 Mapping It: Where in Africa

A. Home At Night

Different animals have homes in different places. Some animals live in trees or caves, while others build nests or houses. Gorillas, like many animals, sleep in nests, but not all nests are the same. Some animals build a nest in one place and return to that nest each night. Their “home” is a nest in one spot. Other animals travel from place to place and sleep in different locations. Their “home” is a wider range of land they travel across each day.

Directions: Compare the gorilla nest to the nests of the hawk and squirrel. Do you think the gorilla is an animal that builds a nest in one place or travels from place to place each day? Can you use clues from the nests to answer the question? After you’ve explored the three nests, check your answer.  

Hawk Nest

Squirrel Nest

Gorilla Nest

Not the same

Gorillas travel from place to place looking for food and sleep in different locations each night. Their nests are made each day from fresh leaves and plants and are only used once. 

Hawk and squirrel nests are made from branches and reused each night. 

Check Your Thinking

B. Home Countries: Political Maps

We know gorillas make their nests in different places each night. We also know that gorillas live in some parts of Africa, but not all. So, which countries do gorillas call home? Political maps show countries, towns, and cities. Here’s a political map of Africa to show us the countries where gorillas make their homes. 

Political Map of Africa

Directions: Try to identify six different countries where gorillas are found. Label those countries on the map of Africa in your Mission Log. In the next lesson, you’ll use this information to make your own map of where the Amazing Gorillas live. 

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