Are private gorilla treks in Rwanda worth it?

Short answer: it depends on how much $15,000 is to you.  If it means the difference between sending your kids to a good school or ordering your 85th Porsche of the year, they are very different things.  But this is a luxury travel website, and I sincerely hope that travel is placed in the correct priority order against feeding your kids.  By which I mean your kids will be fine and survive on the soothing sounds of your gorilla stories and selfies with apes.

Having just returned from my fourth gorilla trek, I was going to update my guide from 2018, assuming much has changed.  It turns out the only difference between now and then is that it’s even more commercialised.  So rather than waiting around at 7 am, wondering why you’re doing it, there’s now a clear purpose: for you to buy stuff you don’t need from their ever-growing list of stalls.  My Dad was taken aback by how commercialised it was, but then what isn’t?  This blog is sponsored by Idi Amin’s ghost; I’ll take money from whoever I can get it.

So, let me talk you through the reasons why you would want a private gorilla trek, assuming you have $15,000 spare but are unsure if it’s worth it.

No Hanging with the Riff-Raff

With a private trek, you don’t have to loiter in the early morning fog with the masses, waiting to be assigned to a group. This will save you a good hour or more of your life.  Instead, you just waltz over from your lodge to the gorilla group of your choosing. Think how cool you’ll look.

Location, Location, Location

Singita Kwitonda is actually inside the national park, which means you could theoretically walk back to the lodge after your trek. And if you’re staying at Bisate or the Bisate Reserve, the park is expanding to envelop these properties too. Basically, you’ll soon be able to gorilla trek in flip flops.

Set the Pace

Remember that whole “pick your group” thing? That means you can choose a gorilla group that’s closer if you’re not in the mood for a long hike. Some groups even hang out in the fields, so you can photograph them and belittle them for not working at the same time.

Enjoy Complete Solitude

For me, this is what makes it all worthwhile.  I’ve now done four gorilla treks, only one of which was private, and much like life, you win some, you lose some.  In one group I had people that probably will one day be on the news for voting against women having the right to vote, whilst being women.  The others were perfectly fine, nice people, in fact, but when everyone is crowding around with all their camera gear and getting in the way, the experience can lose its magic.

On a private trek, though, the vibe shifts entirely. The guides are more relaxed, the gorillas seem genuinely more curious, and you don’t have to worry about someone’s lens/face/selfie stick blocking your once-in-a-lifetime shot.

Conclusion

This isn’t designed to make normal gorilla treks sound lacklustre – they’re absolutely incredible.  But flying First Class is awesome too, yet private jet is better.

If you’re on a budget and can’t justify blowing $30,000 for two hours with an animal that won’t even send you a thank-you note, try this—do one group trek and one private trek. Congratulations, I just saved you $12,000. You’re welcome. Now you can take over as this blog’s sponsor since even Idi’s ghost is getting a bit murdery.