If you want an adventure then Uganda is the ideal destination. Claire Welford went trekking to find a family of rare silverback gorillas.

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. Gorillas have always fascinated me, especially the way they're so much like humans. The chance to trek through a rainforest and come face to face with these amazing creatures was an opportunity I couldn't miss.

After an overnight stay camping in the forest, we set off at 7.30am to begin an epic journey in search of the renowned Silverback gorilla and his family of 18. Only six people are allowed to trek for each gorilla family a day. Permits are booked up months in advance, so my expectations and excitement had been growing for a long time. But the day was finally here and with a walking stick in hand and my camera at the ready, I set out into the forest.

Our ranger led us on a long expedition across mountainous terrain, until we finally entered the forest. Soon we were walking down steep slopes, crossing streams, and gently pushing back the overgrowth as we listened out for the gorillas. The rangers are very experienced at finding them and work on the basis that the gorillas don't move very far from one day to the next. So we returned to the last place that the gorillas were seen and explored further from there.

Suddenly, we heard a rustling in the trees and saw a baby gorilla swinging from some branches in front of us… we had arrived, and could spend the next hour admiring and observing these amazing creatures.

We crouched down and watched a family happily playing together. The children were having fun, while Dad - the Silverback gorilla, looked on with his arm around the mother…. It was so much like a human family.

Over the next hour we watched the Habinyanja family group as they ate, slept, played and stared back at us with their compelling big black eyes. The silverback dominant male was enormous, and very much the man in charge of the group of 18.

Watching the gorillas

He kept a close eye on his children as they moved about I kept having to tell myself that these endangered mountain gorillas were living in their own habitat. This was not a zoo, or some man-made enclosure. This WAS their home, the place they had chosen to live for thousands of years, and I was fortunate enough to share a small moment of my life in their company.

After the excitement of gorilla trekking it was time to relax and enjoy the beauty of Uganda in a new way. If you've ever dreamt of the perfect romantic getaway then Jacana Safari Lodge is your ultimate goal.

If you want to feel like a princess in a fairytale, then your dreams will come true, when you escape to Queen Elizabeth National Park and the exclusive lodge set on the edge of a beautiful crater lake. Jacana Safari Lodge is the most beautiful getaway hide out I've ever seen.

View of the lake

Upon arrival you're mesmerised by the sounds of the forest and view across the lake. What's more, everything is natural here. The whole site is camouflaged by its use of wood, rope and rock.

You have this amazing sense that nothing here is manmade and it's just the most unique experience - even the guest book is made of tree bark. Our log cabin was in the theme of a giraffe and everything inside was hand carved to suit the theme. Instead of glass windows, there's netting so you can really see, smell and hear the sounds of the forest.

I thought I'd miss the TV and music, but I didn't. Instead, I embraced the excitement of seeing mutli-coloured lizards, beautiful rare birds, and even met a family of baboons during a walk. I felt safe, secure and comfortable in my organic haven.

Hammock

In the evening we rested in a hammock by a log fire, and took a swim in the pool as the sun set behind us over the lake. The food was delicious - all local produce freshly made to fulfil our appetite. You can do everything at your own pace here. It's a chance to slow down, take inspiration from creation and understand Africa, in a much more genuine way, compared to the busy western style hotels of the capital Kampala. Inside your log cabin, you can truly see that everything was designed with intricate care and attention.