experience research

Hello everyone,
Thank you to the people that replied to my question earlier. This is still is the developing stages but I have narrowed it down to a few questions (just to get a kind of overview). This study is coming from an anthropological view point and is to do with representation, and cross cultural ideologies. I really appreciate you helping me in this and look forward to your answers.

Questionnaire:
These questions are designed for your first trip to Tanzania.

1) Did you use this website to plan your trip?
2) If yes to #1, which aspects?
3) What kind of trip was it? safari, backpacking, tour bus, beach holiday etc
4) Where did you go and why did you choose this destination?
5) Did you have any preconceived notions of what the country was going to be like? If so what?
6) If yes to #5, do you think the website influence these ideas?
7) What where the main things that you encountered that you were not expecting?(positive and negative)
8) Reflecting on your trip, do you think the country is represented on this website fairly? If no explain.
9) From your experience, would you add anything to this website if you could? what would it be?
10) Could you summarise how you felt and thought about Tanzania before you went, attitudes toward the people, culture, social economic conditions etc and finally your perceptions subsequent to your journey.

Thank you for your time this is of immense help!

Hi

It's raining outside - so I'll answer your questions.

1) TT was a small part of some very comprehensive research I conducted.
2) Used it to get a general overview and traveller's perceptions. Used it for some specific questions - however found that people tended to only know about mainstream routes, destinations etc - very little or no information on anything slightly off the beaten track.
3) trekking: 2 treks, safari, backpacking
4) trekked Mt Meru and Kili, 7 day northern safari, Moshi and area through to Taveta and Voi on the Kenyan side, Pemba, Dar Es Saleem, Zanzibar
5) no preconceived notions - apart from most people tend to do limited tours
7) country was an extraordinarily easy travel destination, touts very low key and not as demanding as many other countries, transport easy and excellent, very good roads - even secondary roads much better than reported by many travellers. Nothing negative.
8) This website is not designed to give objective information as it offers a range of observations and perceptions from a range of travellers.
9) This website acts superbly as a forum for travellers - which is its primary purpose.
10) I have been travelling and backpacking for some 30 years and had merely considered Tanzania as a safari and trekking destination. its culture, people etc had never interested me to the extent that the indian subcontinent, the countires of old indochina, or central America does. Before travelling to east Africa I read about the region's history, and social economic conditions. After 9 weeks in east Africa, I found the region interesting and tantalsing with the differing nuamces between the various tribal groups in easch of the countries I visited.

hi sarah ...

#1. yes, to some extent.
#2. i used it to ask specific questions such as how long does the bus from A to B take, how much does the ferry cost etc.
#3. did safari in kenya and came overland to tanzania, primarily with beach (zanzibar) in mind, some culture too
#4. came overland from kenya and spent some time in moshi and dar, again en route to zanzibar. always wanted to go to zanzibar - for me even the name sums up the exotic.
#5. i imagined tanzania was going to be poor but quite stable/safe in comparison to other countries in the region.
#6. not really - had read other (non guide) books on the area, and on the continent in general.
#7. as above - not much hassle from touts was a nice surprise. food really good.
#8. again i agree with kalki on this one - the TT is full of advise/opinions from different people from all walks of life who have had different experiences while in tanzania - some good, some bad. you know what they say about opinions.....
#9. nothing really
#10. i expected the people to be warm and friendly, which they were. i expected the culture to be fascinating, which it was. overall i really enjoyed the few weeks in spent in east africa and hope to return to the region again some day.

good luck with your research!!

1) No
2) See 1
3) Volunteer work at a school and a safari too.
4) Moshono, see 3.
5) Thought there would be lots of banana plantations, there were but they were much smaller than I imagined.
6) See 1
7) Very poor roads once off the main road. I went from Nairobi to Tanzania, soo mony potholes and so much dust and cooking fires burning. The people are the friendliest I have met anywhere in the world. Despite the poverty they are emotionally rich.
8) The little I have seen - this is my first visit - yes.
9) Too early to answer that.
10) Before I thought the poverty would be awkward for me, all fears squashed as the people were so welcoming. The culture varies and the heirarchical nature of communication was interesting. Can't get Tanzania out of my head and will have to return.

1) Used website amongst other sources
2) Asked questions about availability of contact lens fluid which was the main thing
3) Professional one year contract - did Kili and safari, zanzibar. Travelled in districts with work so saw a different side to it. Lived in dar so based there most weekends
4) Lived in Dar - job based there/ asked whether I would work there
5) Yes from a professional perspective - not from a living one
6) No - found it very touristy and mainstream
7) Beautiful country - lot of litter though
8) Very traveller focussed; doesn't really represent the country as a whole. Dar isn't as boring as people make out
9) Good for travellers; that Tanzanians are incredibly polite and do mind the strappy vest/ shorts/ short skirts despite what they may say
10) Could you summarise how you felt and thought about Tanzania before you went, attitudes toward the people, culture, social economic conditions etc and finally your perceptions subsequent to your journey. Complicated due to job; good country to travel in though

1) yes
2) specific questions (I planned my tri first, THEN used this forum)
3) safari, hiking
4) northern circuit, lengai, meru, kili, southern parks of selous and ruaha. knew of their beauty
5) no
6) /
7) good: food; bad: some annoying luxurius commercial lodges
8) join #1 on this
9) I wish some branches got "cleaned" from awful posters who use it as their personal stress reliever and/or to give voice to their frustrated sex life. luckily, not on this branch
10) before: very excited about the trip; after: tanzania exceeded my expectations