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!