I had an experience the opposite. I did my due diligence on a Zim Ele, sable hunt, had many, many emails from the US Booking agent with great details on the hunt and camp. "You will love the camp in the Matetsi, sits on the bank of a dry riverbed surrounded by miombo forest. On the other side of the river is Botswana". Of course I looked at Google for the possible camp. When I arrived in Zim at Vic Falls outfitter was in Bulawayo. After meeting African company I came to find out they do not have a hunting area in Matetsi, had no ele or sable permits. A substitute PH on this site saved my hunt, was the best dam PH one could imagine, we got an awesome ele on an awesome hunt. When surprisingly he showed up in the PH's living room and I got too meet the 70 + year old US agent with a few questions he stated "too bad, your in Africa now make the most of it". My regret to this day? I should have overlooked his age and put him to sleep with pain right there.
So what I learned, what you are told really means little, things change when in Africa and sometimes you get details and info that is nothing more than BS. Hunters really are at the mercy of the outfits. This site and its advertisers are a great wealth of verified info, one can garner much on an outfit with a few hours of research and reading. Sending PM's to those that have used your chosen outfit for verification. Responses to first round questions could be vague, even second round but once outfitter knows he is on the short list his responses better be on point. If the exact location of your hunting area is an important question that requires proper response and outfitter refuses or fails to provide after same question twice, I would RUN and move on, there are many outfitters to choose from, find one that will disclose your hunting area.
MB