West Gate Safaris in Zambia

04 February 2017, 15:31

163bc

Has anyone hunted with this operation??

I have heard good things but can't seem to get any responce from them??

Thanks, 163bc

04 February 2017, 17:37

fairgame

Is that a good thing?

04 February 2017, 18:00

fairgame

The contact details I have found for Westgate Investments who operate the Upper Lupande concession in the Luangwa Valley.

ibz_999@hotmail.com

Upper Lupande is a prime hunting block.

PM me if you require further details.

04 February 2017, 18:15

Bill C

Assuming the same entity, there is a Facebook page, you could message them or there is a gmail email address listed too, different from the above or what is on a website that appears to be their's. At first glance they appear somewhat disjointed.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/We...t/?ref=page_internal

No US show schedules listed anywhere, but comms can be sporatic if they are traveling.

I like using WhatsApp to communicate these days.

Good luck!

04 February 2017, 18:33

Safari2

This is the operation Buzz subcontracts with.

04 February 2017, 18:38

Bill C

quote:
Originally posted by Safari2:
This is the operation Buzz subcontracts with.

Well then, there is the answer, contact Buzz or Myles:

http://www.cmsafaris.com/contact.htm

04 February 2017, 23:46

Gale Johnson

Says right on Cms webpage, in association with Westgate. I just spent a bit of time with Myles visiting about the Dande area in Zimbabwe at SCI. I couldn't have been more impressed with him. Met Buzz also briefly and I am sure there are plenty of people here to comment on him.

Give them call and proceed with confidence, they said it is a great area!!

06 February 2017, 01:31

163bc

I did contact Buzz as I was referred to him by another member. I asked for info which he promptly provided. I asked him some questions about westgate and pricing and he e-mailed me back that I should book directly w them? I have not spoken to west gate at all. Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

06 February 2017, 01:48

MJines

quote:
Originally posted by 163bc:
Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

. . . I am sure it would have nothing to do with the Martin Pieters thread.

06 February 2017, 01:52

Heym 450/400

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
quote:
Originally posted by 163bc:
Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

. . . I am sure it would have nothing to do with the Martin Pieters thread.

Why would it?

06 February 2017, 22:04

fairgame

quote:
Originally posted by 163bc:
I did contact Buzz as I was referred to him by another member. I asked for info which he promptly provided. I asked him some questions about westgate and pricing and he e-mailed me back that I should book directly w them? I have not spoken to west gate at all. Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

Maybe time to look else where? Most of the top Zambian PHs will be able to advise you of good hunting opportunities.

07 February 2017, 06:07

Buzz Charlton

quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by 163bc:
I did contact Buzz as I was referred to him by another member. I asked for info which he promptly provided. I asked him some questions about westgate and pricing and he e-mailed me back that I should book directly w them? I have not spoken to west gate at all. Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

163 can highly recommended by a good client whom I sent there last year and had a great hunt. I had an agreement with WGS and we were using their prices which I quoted 163. We do not believe in increasing the prices and in essence we were acting as an agent especially for the many clients of ours that have hunted Zim many times and wanted a different experience. The area is excellent and Mario whom is the Ph is very good so we were confident and had 2 excellent safaris there last year with no issues.

The misunderstanding came when apparently our quote came in higher then WGS whom 163 obviously and rightly contacted.

Been in the middle of the shows and hectic I recommended that 163 book direct rather then loose a booking especially as it seemed it was below the prices given to us. My intention was to contact WGS and clear the pricing issues before continuing too book.

In WGS defence prices change depending on demand. For example coming into the show we only had 10 day buff specials and the day the show started we decided to offer 7 day specials- this may have been the case with WGS for which they are well entitled to do and there was an oversight in not telling me.

I fully intend to continue booking for them as its a great area and I have scheduled a trip after I return from Salzburg show to visit them in person as well as look at another area in Zim.

For the record the MP incident had no bearing to this decision to ask 183 to book direct. Simply put I felt uneasy booking a hunt that there were two prices for and wanted to sort that out before I restarted booking.

07 February 2017, 11:54

fairgame

The Lupande concessions of the famous Luangwa valley encompass some of of the best game areas in Zambia.

Many of the new operators are still finding their feet but the infrastructure and hunting that they can offer is first class. There has been some tremendous investments in hunting and conservation.

I have seen pictures of monster Lion and Buff from across the Luangwa and images that would match or better anything that is coming out of Tanzania at the moment. I think the success rate on Lion is around 90% and by all accounts even higher for Leopard.

07 February 2017, 22:50

Dentist

Hey Buzz, do you have a booth in Salzburg at the hunting show? Can I buy your new DVD directly?

08 February 2017, 20:22

163bc

quote:
Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by 163bc:
I did contact Buzz as I was referred to him by another member. I asked for info which he promptly provided. I asked him some questions about westgate and pricing and he e-mailed me back that I should book directly w them? I have not spoken to west gate at all. Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

163 can highly recommended by a good client whom I sent there last year and had a great hunt. I had an agreement with WGS and we were using their prices which I quoted 163. We do not believe in increasing the prices and in essence we were acting as an agent especially for the many clients of ours that have hunted Zim many times and wanted a different experience. The area is excellent and Mario whom is the Ph is very good so we were confident and had 2 excellent safaris there last year with no issues.

The misunderstanding came when apparently our quote came in higher then WGS whom 163 obviously and rightly contacted.

Been in the middle of the shows and hectic I recommended that 163 book direct rather then loose a booking especially as it seemed it was below the prices given to us. My intention was to contact WGS and clear the pricing issues before continuing too book.

In WGS defence prices change depending on demand. For example coming into the show we only had 10 day buff specials and the day the show started we decided to offer 7 day specials- this may have been the case with WGS for which they are well entitled to do and there was an oversight in not telling me.

I fully intend to continue booking for them as its a great area and I have scheduled a trip after I return from Salzburg show to visit them in person as well as look at another area in Zim.

For the record the MP incident had no bearing to this decision to ask 183 to book direct. Simply put I felt uneasy booking a hunt that there were two prices for and wanted to sort that out before I restarted booking.

Fair enough Mr. Charlton and thank your for taking the time to respond. I'm not trying to throw anyone under the bus here with my original post. I'm just trying to find out about hunting in a place I know absolutely nothing about. As anyone would I want to book with someone who has familiarity with the area, the game, the logistics and who can offer me a safe high quality hunt. This area was recommended to me by someone who had been there and hunted the area with CMS. I was told Mr. Charlton was the person to contact which I did. Mr. Charlton promptly responded and sent me info on the area he had hunted and a price list. Westgates price list was posted on their web site and there was a fairly significant difference in what they had posted and what Mr. Charlton quoted me. I naturally asked why the difference as I think anyone would? Mr. Charlton kindly and politely bowed out at that point and to avoid any further confusion and suggested I speak directly with Westgate. At no point up to the time I write this have I had any contact with anyone at Westgate. My only discussions about this up to this point has has been with the person who referred me to CMS and Mr. Charlton. I did e-mail Westgate directly AFTER I had contacted CMS. I can only assume that the issue was with an old price list that was posted on the westgate site. No harm no foul here as far as I'm concerned. I will continue to look for a good high quality safari in 2018 and would not for a minute hesitate to contact or book w Mr. Charlton or CMS. I'm just as fine with booking direct w Westgate. I'm just a guy doing his homework and doesn't want to be in the middle of a confusing financial transaction on the other side of the world. For all who have posted or PMed me thank you. 163bc

08 February 2017, 23:07

163bc

quote:
Originally posted by 163bc:
quote:
Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
quote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by 163bc:
I did contact Buzz as I was referred to him by another member. I asked for info which he promptly provided. I asked him some questions about westgate and pricing and he e-mailed me back that I should book directly w them? I have not spoken to west gate at all. Not sure why he didn't seem interested?

163 can highly recommended by a good client whom I sent there last year and had a great hunt. I had an agreement with WGS and we were using their prices which I quoted 163. We do not believe in increasing the prices and in essence we were acting as an agent especially for the many clients of ours that have hunted Zim many times and wanted a different experience. The area is excellent and Mario whom is the Ph is very good so we were confident and had 2 excellent safaris there last year with no issues.

The misunderstanding came when apparently our quote came in higher then WGS whom 163 obviously and rightly contacted.

Been in the middle of the shows and hectic I recommended that 163 book direct rather then loose a booking especially as it seemed it was below the prices given to us. My intention was to contact WGS and clear the pricing issues before continuing too book.

In WGS defence prices change depending on demand. For example coming into the show we only had 10 day buff specials and the day the show started we decided to offer 7 day specials- this may have been the case with WGS for which they are well entitled to do and there was an oversight in not telling me.

I fully intend to continue booking for them as its a great area and I have scheduled a trip after I return from Salzburg show to visit them in person as well as look at another area in Zim.

For the record the MP incident had no bearing to this decision to ask 183 to book direct. Simply put I felt uneasy booking a hunt that there were two prices for and wanted to sort that out before I restarted booking.

Fair enough Mr. Charlton and thank your for taking the time to respond. I'm not trying to throw anyone under the bus here with my original post. I'm just trying to find out about hunting in a place I know absolutely nothing about. As anyone would I want to book with someone who has familiarity with the area, the game, the logistics and who can offer me a safe high quality hunt. This area was recommended to me by someone who had been there and hunted the area with CMS. I was told Mr. Charlton was the person to contact which I did. Mr. Charlton promptly responded and sent me info on the area he had hunted and a price list. Westgates price list was posted on their web site and there was a fairly significant difference in what they had posted and what Mr. Charlton quoted me. I naturally asked why the difference as I think anyone would? Mr. Charlton politely bowed out at that point and to avoid any further confusion and suggested I speak directly with Westgate. At no point up to the time I write this have I had any contact with anyone at Westgate. My only discussions about this up to this point has has been with the person who referred me to CMS and Mr. Charlton. I did e-mail Westgate directly AFTER I had contacted CMS.

No harm no foul here as far as I'm concerned. I will continue to look for a good high quality safari in 2018 and would not for a minute hesitate to contact or book w Mr. Charlton or CMS. I'm just as fine with booking direct w Westgate. I'm just a guy doing his homework who doesn't want to be in the middle of a confusing financial transaction on the other side of the world. For all who have posted or PMed me thank you. 163bc