A suggestion for new posters and trip reports (?)
 

I submit this more as a suggestion rather than a complaint and other opinions/ideas are most invited (That's why the "?" after the subject line).

If new posters or those with their first trip reports could give me some background information about their previous safaris, it would help me evaluate/compare what they are describing. For instance, some time ago we had a poster that said his safari was the -best one ever-. Which was very true - because it was his first and only one!!! Not knowing this I could think that the camps he went to were the best of the best. How we describe/evaluate a safari, camp or even a country depends a lot on our past experiences. If a poster says that this was their very first safari then I expect great enthusiasm and big superlatives. On the other hand, if I know that they have been doing safaris for 12 years and they use big superlatives then sit up and take notice. Although, of course, we all still have personal preferences for some things over others. Myself for example, I can call a camp great even though my hut does not have a plunge pool.

I also realize that the forum is not intended to be a scientific journal seeking truth.

Anyway, even if my suggestion here is a good one, it will never be followed because a new poster won't see it!!! The only thing I can then do is ask the new poster about their previous experiences. But I hesitate to do this because it sounds as if I am criticizing or challenging the poster. Yet, again, unless I know some about the poster's travel/safari back ground I have to read their report with a big grain of salt. This then is the real reason for my posting this. How can I learn more about the new poster/report experiences? Of course reports can still be very enjoyable to read simply as a read. And many are. Well, enough said, my mini-rant-whine over. Thanks for listening :-)

regards - tom

Dear Tom,
I do follow your reasoning -- but I'm a bit torn. I've been following the forum (mostly silently except for posts in my area of expertise) for over a year as we planned our upcoming 3-week trip. We have traveled extensively in other parts of the world for 35 yrs+ including a fabulous bear watching experience in Alaska last year.

DH was in Africa for 6 weeks some ten years ago, but this is my first trip to the continent -- and first safaris for us both.

I'd planned to take extensive notes in order to post a trip report afterward...but I guess your post gives me pause about investing the effort if my observations will have less credence. I imagine I'll do it anyway as a way of saying "thanks" for all the helpful information I received, but you've taken a bit of the wind out of my sails.

skibumette - many thanks for your reply. I understand and I was/am concerned about my posting discouraging new poster reports. I don't want to do that. I'm probably only 2% of the fodorites here that look for supporting information in a report. Please remember this is only my opinion and that my scientific/engineering background invades all of my life :-).

It is always fun to read reports feeling the writer's enthusiasm and wonderment in discovering Africa. So please please do not hesitate writting for us your excitement in that wonderful land. I know will enjow reading it.

regards - tom
ps - that's why it's probably good that my posting sinks and disappears. I'm just hoping that someone will tell me how to question/approach a new poster's report to get this type of background information. And without challenging/offending the poster. Can you?

Cary, I for one, agree with you, but skibumette, this definitely shouldn't discourage you from posting a trip report at all - all cary is asking is that when you do, you indicate that it's your first trip to Africa, or your second, or tenth, and maybe the kind of traveler you are -- independent vs. group tours, camping vs. total lap of luxury. It all helps other people decipher your report. As I said on another thread, something to do with TripAdvisor, the review is only as good as the person who wrote it. If I don't know the person, I don't know whether he or she considers Motel 6 5*, or considers nothing less than the Four Seasons "acceptable". When someone says "this is the best hotel I've ever stayed in", how do I know what that means if I don't know where s/he has stayed before?

Definitely write your report, and have a great time on your trip!

Skibumette, please do write your report! I don't think that Tom intended to discourage newbies. In fact, newbie trip reports can be both fascinating and informative especially because they are different from more experienced safari-goers.

A newbie might describe something with fresh eyes. A newbie often writes with an enthusiam that can't be beat. A newbie sometimes points out a difficulty that experienced people take for granted, but that other newbies will find informative.

So speaking as a relative newbie myself, I think that everyone's reports are interesting and valuable, but I would probably refer to different reports for different reasons.

Here's an analogy. If I want to compare the flavor of an apple and an orange, I'll get a better comparison from a person who has eaten both. But if I just want to know if the apple crop is good, I might get a marvelous description from an apple-eater who has never eaten an orange.

Many thanks for all your replys, they all help to explain what I'm trying to say and also encourage the writers. I enjoy this forum more than any other I visit.

regards - tom

Another suggestion is to keep all parts of a report on one thread. ((*))

Further to Tom's suggestion, please also indicate in future trip reports your precise relationship with your travel companion[s] and/or the degree of attraction you felt toward your vehicle mates. You may say, "It was the best safari ever," when you just may have been in love (or in musth).

Tom, I'm making fun of you a little bit because your suggestion strikes me as funny. It's the idea that the wonderful subjectivity of trip reports can be made more objective somehow by adding this one piece of information that seems funny to me, and sort of endearing, actually.

I wish I could remember the name of the great William Maxwell story about the couple who travels to a European village at the suggestion of their friends. It would have been the perfect response to your post. (Note to self: Find out whether literary references in trip reports increases or decreases credibility before posting trip report about first trip to Africa).

Thanks for the encouragement; I'll go sharpen my pencils again so I'm ready to take notes!

And I'll also try to put some of my eventual comments into context -- why (from my experience or lack thereof) something is particularly interesting, frustrating, or memorable....

Context is the perfect word for it :)

besides, I see nothing wrong with posting that your safari was the best ever. It probably was, since it was your first. But, otherwise, I agree with putting your trip into context, makes for a better trip report.

I just admire those who do trip reports!! I am still working on my Egypt one, not to mention finishing my European one. :(

So how many safaris must one take in order to have their trip report considered worth reading? Two? Five or more? Just wondering (for future reference).

I must admit that I am a little discouraged because I'm booked on my first safari this October and I'm very excited about it. I was planning to do quite a bit if journaling (even bought new, fun little journal). I'm sure I'll still write about my experiences, but I'm now having second thoughts about doing any posting.

I do, however, understand the thought. Perhaps I'll just follow Tom's advice and post disclaimers at the beginning so people can stop reading after one or two sentences after discovering that it was only my first time there.

I have to tell you all that I have enjoyed reading all of your trip reports - from both first-timers and multi-timers - and do value all of them. But maybe this is only because I haven't been yet myself?

Skibumette, please do post your trip report because I would love to read about your experiences.

CJ

CJ - I don't/won't stop reading a trip report just because the poster says it was their first safari. I read it with a new perspective. Some of the posters here (no need to mention names) have written many trip reports. I read their reports from the perspective of knowing who they are and of their previous reports. When I see a new poster or trip report I have no perspective to start with. Makes very little sense I guess? Again, I'm sure I'm in the minority regarding this but I do see a little support in some above replies.

Journaling is fun , I do it even though I'm not much of a writer. October is not far away and I'm looking forward to your safari report.

regards - tom

<b>So how many safaris must one take in order to have their trip report considered worth reading? </b>

CarrieT,

<b>ALL</b> of them are worth reading :) It's just that some are more credible than others.

I'll just give one anecdote and then fade away ... on our first safari we were with a photo tour and there were 5 jeeps. We switched between the 5 jeeps, roughly 3 days in each, so got to know all five drivers equally well.

When I went back on my own I used the same company. We requested one of the top four drivers ... the fifth guy was OK I thought, but not quite up to the standards of the others, and he was on the phone a lot. OK guy but not really top-notch.

A year later we heard the drivers talking about one of them getting fired for 'borrowing' one of the company jeeps and doing one day 'free lance' safaris to Arusha NP. He also would sell off the extra gas to make a few extra bucks. He got caught when one of his &quot;clients&quot; complained about the service to the company (whose name is of course on the jeep). He was fired and hired by a company that gets good reviews here on Fodors. Turns out he was the 5th guy on our first trip, the one we didn't think was all that great.

A few months after this a first time safari-goer files their report and has this guide with his new company. He is, they assure us Fodor readers, &quot;The Best Guide in East Africa&quot;, someone you should request if you use that company. Yet to me he wasn't in the top four of the five guides we used, plus he got fired from a better company for theft.

Not long ago I saw another Fodors report from a client with the same guide. Another glowing report, he was 'highly recommended' if you use that company.

Of course veterans know that most first timers are likely to swoon over their guide (95% of the time) but it was still funny to me, knowing the guy, to read that someone considered him &quot;the best guide in East Africa.&quot;

Bill

Bill,

Thank you for that anecdote. I do find it very interesting and it does put things into perspective. Rest assured I rarely swoon and I am the type to have high expectations (of myself most of all, but this carries over to my travel) so if I do rave about my guide after my first trip to Tanzania, it will be well deserved ;-)

Tom, I guess I just didn't realize what a serious business the trip reporting was. I personally write for fun and don't analyze too much, but I guess that's why these message boards are good - to get us all thinking. And I certainly would give all the information you mentioned in any event since I tend to usually write too much! I'll forget about it for now until I get back and have something to write about :-)

CJ

the OP confirms my hesitation to upload any trip report - and i am not a newbe but the responses have already backed my opinion.

div

People can always skip reading the trip reports if they are not interesting or relevant to them. I like writing up my experiences, even if it is a short one. I can also send the links to friends and family without cluttering their inboxes. Everyone here has said that this isn't mean to discourage anyone from uploading their own. You might learn something for your next trip, or hear some interesting tidbit about your own experience. Just my 2 cents.

&quot;I guess your post gives me pause about investing the effort if my observations will have less credence.&quot; Exactly why I haven't posted mine here.

Aaaaww shucks, so nice that so many of you value my opinion and my pleasure so highly. But sad for me, it only happens on the internet :-)

regards - tom

For all those hesitant to write trip reports, please don't be. Write away. We will read them, love them, and use them as a way to transport us back to the continent we love so much. And, IMO the more pictures the better.

However, I agree with Tom. The more I know about the poster the more I know whether his/her likes are in line with my own. I don't think it's a matter of credibility, but more of putting things in context.

Now that I look back at my trip report from last year I realize that nobody on this board probably had any idea I'd been to Africa before. I used quite a lot of superlatives. Everything was &quot;fantastic&quot; or &quot;amazing&quot; or &quot;wonderful&quot;. And you know what, that's the truth. Nobody gave me a hard time. People read my report with interest, asked questions, and made some wonderful comments. It helped me re-live my experience. Writing it was a little tedious, but I go back and read it every one in a while, and find myself smiling. But, I have taken note of Tom's suggestion and when I write a report for Costa Rica (I just got back two days ago) I will try to remember to include an introduction/about me section. Not just that I'd never been to Costa Rica before, but how I generally prefer to travel, my likes/dislikes regarding travel in general, and background information. That way when I complain about the food people will realize that it isn't really that bad, that I'm just a bit of a food snob!

So, please write and post trip reports. We love to read them all!

Trip reports are probably the most valuable thing on this forum and the more the better as it leads to a body of posted experiences on more camps and just as importantly more times of year.

I don't believe anyone can make a post that every single reader is drawn to and benefits from, the key is to know that you may help a few people and that makes it worthwhile. Anyone who feels like the board helped with their plans should assume that sharing their experience can do the same for another traveller so I hope that everyone will do their best to post a trip report be it a huge detailed recount of the trip or a quick summary of facts that you think are of interest, whatever your style. I'll create a cliche and say that the only bad trip report is the one not posted.

You got he idea Dana, well said.

And PB I like your new cliche. And good point about reports don't have to be long and exhaustive. A couple of paragraphs may very well pique interest and start questions.

And FWIW, in less than two months I will have &quot;safaried&quot; and be back home. Writing of any kind, trip reports included, does not come easy for me. It is work. But of course I will do it. So then all you whiners about because of me you no longer want to post reports can take revenge on me :-)

regards - tom

I found the suggestion of the 0.P to be logical, clearly worded, and non judgmental

There are some very sensitive people about!!!.

Almac, I don't consider myself an extremely &quot;sensitive&quot; person and I wasn't saying that I don't understand Tom's message or that what he was suggesting was unreasonable.

What I was trying to get across was my focus has now shifted from having fun and enjoying the experience of journaling and posting a trip report to analyzing it instead and wondering - should I post this or that because it might not have any value to anyone?? I love to write and would still like to post a trip report when I get back.

Carrie

Carrie, I think you're overanalyzing now, and, honestly, missing the point. Noone is suggesting that you should analyze what you should and shouldn't say. Say whatever you want. Just give us a little context. I honestly don't understand what is so difficult about this.

Ah, so now I'm missing the point? Didn't I just say that I understand and don't have an issue with the suggestion at all? I was just trying to say that for me personally - some of the fun and anticipation has been taken away by over-thinking trip reports. Yes, with the last post, you've now completely succeeded in sucking the fun out of this for me. I think I'll maybe stick to just posting the photos in that case... ;-)

Actually, I think from now on I'll just keep my mouth shut (or fingers off the keys as it were) and go back to lurking instead.

I really want you all to know that your trip reports and help with questions have been invaluable to my planning and, as a result, I feel I have an excellent trip ahead of me that I'm really excited about. Thank you all very much.

Carrie

Carrie, there are loads of people who will love to read your trip report no matter how you write it, so please go ahead just as you expected to.

Ditto what ann_nyc said.

I read on this forum since over 2 years by now and I am very happy of it. We do not have similar active forums here in EU like this one which is mostly from US travelers. Nevertheless I consider this forum as my favourite and more detailled source of information, comments and suggestions.
I have very limited safari experience in Africa compared to others by now but I do not feel discouraged at all to write down anyway my trip reports even with lots of grammar mistakes as this is not my primary language.
Writing posts with evaluations and statements on which is the best lodge, camp, restaurant, tour operator, itinerary or whatever is part of the quality world for which we could write thousands of books and we would never come to a common shared conclusion. By reading other's reports on this forum I do like this:

- I try to read as much as I can on my focused area of interest
- I try to tune myself with the posters to figure out whether or not we have the same or at least similar priorities on what I am looking for. For instance, having a fixed X budget, how to split it ?Taking a luxury accomodation trip but shorter time or a less luxury budget accomodation trip but more nights ? Taking this as example I come to the conclusion that even very experienced travelers can give useless evaluations on quality if the priorities of the readers are different !
- I get what I need and skip the rest

In the same way, when I write a trip report I know that my evaluations and comments will be completely ignored by someone but maybe of some interest for others, regardless of my experience.

Different is for the knowledge, coming from the experience of travelers and posters. This is definitely the best precious part of this forum, as it has limited chances to be put in discussions when talking about facts and figures !

Thanks to all of you for being part of this forum !!

fabio

Fabio - I very much admire your command of English. And I very much admire you and everyone here that participate when English is not their native language. I do not have anywhere close to your ability to communicate in another language. And thank you for being part of this forum.

regards - tom

Carrie, please, please, please, do reconsider about posting. I have had tremendous enjoyment reading the reports from other travelers. Indeed, many of us, relieve our trips thru the eyes/writings of others. So, regardless of one's style and amount of detail, there is always something to be gained in reading another traveler's reports. If we are fortunate to be able to return to East Africa, it may not be 'til fall of 2009. Thus, I get my &quot;fix&quot; for the disease &quot;Africanicus returnicus&quot; thru you and other contriutors. I enjoy first timer reports as well as those from seasoned travelers. Dick

Carrie and others who are trip-report-shy:

I like all kinds of reports and read as many as my schedule allows. Even ones from insufferable posters. In fact, I may enjoy those the best.

Please do share your experiences. You never know whom you are helping down the line.

I agree. Please write trip reports. For those of you who think that people aren't interested, well, you are wrong. Many of us are interested. Not just for information, but to be transported back to Africa; all the more fun to be transported back through someone else's eyes.

For information, yes, information on the poster is valuable in order to put his/her recommendations in context. But that does not mean without any context at all, that many of us won't still enjoy the report. It's like being on safari. Many a game drive I've enjoyed even more than if I were alone because I could see/here the excitement in the face/voice of a first timer. That might mean somebody who is on his/her first safari, or it could be somebody like me who's been on safari before but for the first time saw a honey badger or a sitatunga.

Please do not think/worry about a trip report while enjoying your safari. If you happen to include an introductory section with your report (i.e. a little about who you are, what you like), wonderful. If you don't, fine. As I mentioned previously, I didn't (because I never thought to do so), and I still received many wonderful responses to my report.

Tom was only offering a suggestion. In fact, I think he was really asking a question: asking whether people thought this was a good idea. I do agree with Tom, but I did not mean to discourage anybody. Africa is a magical place, and I want to read every word I can about it from every person who visits.

I apparently have less of a command of the English language than Fabio.

Sorry for my typos. I can type faster than I can think, and I am bad about not using the preview function. That should be &quot;hear&quot;, not &quot;here&quot;. And anything else gramatically incorrect, well chalk it up to not being able to rely on spell check!

Thank you all for your trip-report support! And I have to tell you that I'm so excited about this safari that it would be pretty darn hard not to say anything to you all about the trip! I adore taking photos, my true love, but writing is, by far, the more personal medium IMHO and I do hope that I can share it with you. I can't wait to hear the lions roar and to soar above the Serengeti planes in a hot air balloon!

By the way, I bought a &quot;defense department&quot; Swahili cd on e-bay that I highly recommend...although I won't be using the &quot;put your hands up&quot; or &quot;put your weapon down&quot; part of the program I'm sure ;-) the common phrases are wonderfully pronounced and there are lots to choose from - including colors and numbers (I don't think I'll need that either, but you never know).

Thank you all and I'm really looking forward to the adventure ahead (if I survive the flight of course!).

Carrie

Have a wonderful time Carrie!

tom, I'm adding 'status' to the trip report index for you whenever it's mentioned...... :-)

Thanks Lynda.
Although I confess, I'm not sure what it is you're adding?

regards - tom

Tom,
I think she means &quot;status&quot; as a category of safari goer (i.e. 1st timer, repeat visitor, etc.), although I think it was tongue-in-cheek :)

Lynda,
Did I understand that correctly?

Tom &amp; Dana-

Dana you were right - but no, not tongue-in-cheek, I really am! (see the last trip report I posted this morning....)

Whenever they mention whether they are newbies or old hands at wrangling lions, I will put it in the index, and that way people can see-at-a-glance.

Lynda