I have been to Africa twice and I am going again this year. With each trip to Namibia I was able to have skins tanned and the zebra hides tanned and put up on felt. All of these were well done and were reasonably priced. This was also the case last year with the Namibian trophies. The Tanzanian fiasco started with the PH and the shipping of my trophies using anothers instructions and ended with the back skins of the buffalo and hartabeest being tanned in the USA. I have to say that even though the taxidermist was excited about the results, they fell far short of the quality I received from Namibia. This year I would like the trophies to be handeled better. Can the trophies be sent from Zambia to RSA or another country such as Namibia for processing? I think I was told that there were no good places to do this in Zambia. What are your suggestions?????

It's no problem to have them sent from Zambia to RSA and the taxidermist I'd recommend is Lifeform Taxidermy who are based just up the road from my home here in White River. They're not the cheapest in SA and they're not the most expensive either but their work is simply fabulous and their customer service can't be beaten. They'll keep you up to date with every aspect of the work.

You'll find their website at http://www.lifeform.co.za.

quote:

Originally posted by lb404:
I have been to Africa twice and I am going again this year. With each trip to Namibia I was able to have skins tanned and the zebra hides tanned and put up on felt. All of these were well done and were reasonably priced. This was also the case last year with the Namibian trophies. The Tanzanian fiasco started with the PH and the shipping of my trophies using anothers instructions and ended with the back skins of the buffalo and hartabeest being tanned in the USA. I have to say that even though the taxidermist was excited about the results, they fell far short of the quality I received from Namibia. This year I would like the trophies to be handeled better. Can the trophies be sent from Zambia to RSA or another country such as Namibia for processing? I think I was told that there were no good places to do this in Zambia. What are your suggestions?????

A good taximdermy in RSA (port elizibeth) is
WildTaxidermy http://www.wildafricataxidermy.co.za/

I agree with Steve ( AKA Shakari) that LifeForm in White River are v good and he is correct with the appropriate documentation (naturally) the trophies can be sent ex: Zambia to RSA ...

Having said that, I dont know whom said that trophies cant be done in Zambia!!

Our Taxidermist dip pack and ship consultant agent Mike @ Bangweulu Taxi can do (mounting as well) if required. We personally have used Mike for a number of seasons to do all our clients dip pack ans ship as required.

Information upon request as required

Regards, Peter

You can have them dip and packed in the country were you hunt and then have it shipped to any destination of your choice,
I do not think that Zambia is a good idea. Secondly I do not know of any taxidermy service up that way.
If you would like me to send you some prices of my taxidermy services just ask.

Peter,

What are his cats like?

I always reckon the best way to judge a taxidermist is by the quality of his cats......which is one of the reasons I like Lifeform so much. To coin a phrase "They're grrreat!"

I have always had excellent luck with Witbank Taxidermy

Jan is a true professional and has his own tannery, so everything is done in house. He does many of our clients' trophies from Mozambique and Zambia and is well versed in the legalities of transport in Africa. Prices are right in there as well.

I'll second Shakari and Balla Balla's vote for Lifeform Taxidermy. I've had Zac and the gang handle the taxidermy for two of my safaris and have toured their facilities in White River and can tell you from experience both are first class!

Why risk getting taxidermy done in Africa? If it is screwed up, you have no recourse. In the USA you can pay by credit card, and if it is screwed up, send it back and dispute the charge. That way you have some protection.

A lot of people think it is cool to get their taxidermy work done in Africa. But most of the mounts I have seen that were done in Africa are piss poor representations of the animal.

Also, consider the cost of air freighting mounted heads across the Atlantic. YIKES!

There are world class taxidermists in the U.S. Keep your dollars here.

I had my stuff done in RSA with a very nice, family owned outfir called Kwiktan. I saved a full 40% on taxidermy and the work was very good.The trophies were taken in Zimbabwe and shipped to them in RSA by an outfit called Maple Freight whih I think it's owned by Life Forms out of Bulawayo. I paid them with my AMEX card so I had some recourse if things weren't up to snuff ( recognizing 500grain's valid point). Further, they were on my wall within 11 months. I plan to use them again in ....9 days! jorge

Three of us on my last trip used Trans African in SA and they did a very nice job.

A caution about getting things from Zambia to South Africa: it can take awhile and it does add additional government and shipping fees. I only took a sable in Zambia, and the cost to get the skull and flat skin from Zambia to Trans African in South Africa were as much as the trophy fee itself. Then, of course, you have to pay to get them from South Africa back to your home country later.

There's good and bad taxidermists in Africa, the USA and elsewhere. It's not the country that produced good or bad work - it's the individual taxidermist. - Examples of both types of work have been posted on this forum in the past.

As to cost, I always thought the two options were pretty comparable but perhaps a few members might like to post examples of both cost options......

Bwanamrm (or anyone else)

Next time you're coming to White River please feel free to contact me and (assuming I'm around) we can have a beer or two - or if you have time come to the house and we'll have a braii.....

lb404

You might want to look at Taxidermy Africa they are in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, RSA.

This shop is run by John, Roland and Cathy Peacock who all grew up in Zimbabwe.

You may want to look at my previous POST

They have a "quotation wizard" on their web site. And they specifically mention importing trophies from other african countries.

They did a batch of trophies for my buddy and I in 2003 and were right on delivery and cost quotations. The quality, to my eye is at least equal the high priced US shop I used in 2001.

Les

Send them home, if things go heywire, and you got them here, then you can get it settled, ever try to settle a dispute or whatever in a country half way around the world..Its expensive and futile....

I no longer have anything but tanning and skull mounts done in Africa, and thats my advise to my clientele...

Ray, I can't agree with you more!!

Get your mounts done here in the states. If you want skins "just" tanned it's your choice. But for mounts bring the salted skins home, get the complete process done here!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:


I no longer have anything but tanning and skull mounts done in Africa, and thats my advise to my clientele...

Couldn't agree more. Pretty hard to mess up a skull mount.

I'll second shakari's vote for Life-Form in White River. They do museum quality work; their rates are a bargain by NA standards; and their communication and coordination skills are the best.

You can ship your dipped and packed trophies to them from anywhere else in Africa.

As long as they're around and shipping costs don't go through the roof, they will have my business.

Funnily enough I was in there a couple of weeks ago and they showed me a collection they were just about to send to a museum in (I think) China. The entire collection was fabulous but the star of the show was a fullmount Elephant that was the biggest bodied I've ever seen.

Cecil the head taxidermist is a real star and a pleasure to talk to.

The other thing that happens with African taxidermy is that the horns or cape are not from your animal! (and undoubtedly worse than the one you shot). Wonder what happened to the better horns....

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
The other thing that happens with African taxidermy is that the horns or cape are not from your animal! (and undoubtedly worse than the one you shot). Wonder what happened to the better horns....

Don't you feel that statement's just a little sweeping to say the least.......

Probably the most common reason for that is the individual PH failing to correctly label the trophies in the first place.......and in that case it doesn't matter where the taxidermy is done.

We've been in business since 1990 and in that time have sent trophies to taxidermists in many countries and in all that time have never had a single trophy swopped. - but we label the trophies correctly.

Unfortunately, several friends have had switches happen (whether by accident or on purpose, who knows). A 28 and 29.5" nyala for sure became a 25" and 26" for one friend, and he measured them himself when shot. Other times, I think the PH may exagerate just a bit or one's measurement grows in their own memory before it gets home. I do know with the majority of reputable PH's, outfitters, and shippers these don't happen often.

One thing I did prior to my hunt in Namibia was to include some of my copper trapping name tags. These cost $7-10 for about 50 of them from any trapping supply house, and have regular imprinted lettering (usually 3 lines). When I gave them to the skinners, they were delighted, and immediately wired them on every part of any animal I took. They are impervious to any boiling and soaking, and removed any doubt as to whose trophy was being handled. When I received all my skins/skulls/horns they had these still attached in addition to regular plastic cattle ear tags which were labeled with permanent marker. The ink may have been faded, but there was no doubt as to what my name was on my tags.

Any of my clients going to Africa, I give them a bag of tags with my name, address, phone#, email, and my USDA & USFW qualifications on them. Along with plastic ties and a marker that doesn't wipe off. They are a florecent green color also. This makes for easy marking of all parts!

I would challenge anyone who does not already have his mind made up as to where he is going to have his trophies mounted to attend a National Taxidermy Association convention, a World Taxidermy convention, visit a shop that is run by a designated Master Taxidermist by the NTA, or tour a shop like Animal Artisty in Reno, then say that you can have your mounts done better in Africa. There are certainly some talented taxidermists in other countries, but they just don't have the supplies, forms, tools, paints, and other items in the variety and quality that are available in the US. Do their mounts have implant quality glass eyes, nictitating membranes, veined septums, accurately molded jaw sets? American taxidermists have dozens of quality forms for individual species available to them by a multitude of suppliers. Yes, there is a cost saving outside the US, but that is pretty much lost on the freight cost of having a completed mount shipped half way around the world, and you can't just drive over to his shop and see how the work is going.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
The other thing that happens with African taxidermy is that the horns or cape are not from your animal! (and undoubtedly worse than the one you shot). Wonder what happened to the better horns....

Don't you feel that statement's just a little sweeping to say the least.......

No more sweeping than advising against anyone hunting in Zim.

The switching of trophies happens most often at the taxidermist, not at the outfitter. Usually the guys who just get skulls and skins shipped home get the right stuff (but not always), however it seems that the wrong (smaller) trophies are sent much more often when an African taxidermist is used.

Not always. But plenty often.

Thank You RBHunt!!!!!!!

RBHunt, yes I agree. I have not seen any taxidermy done in Africa that competes with the work of Mike Boyce (Animal Artistry) or the other great taxidermists we have here in the U.S. There is also some question about the quality of tanning from some Afrian tanneries. Yes, indeed I have experienced that myself.

have it done here.

Am I to understand that the taxidermist in Africa do not have access to the same supplies as the American taxidermist do?
Did you ever hear of the internet? Taxidermy supplies are available from anywhere there is an internet. I think Africa has access to it.
Some of the nicest tanned hides I've ever seen were done in Namibia.
As stated above, there's good/bad taxidermist in every country. You "pays your money, and takes your chances."
We elected to have our heads done in Namibia on the advice of a friend who has been to Africa several times. Money is not a factor with him. It is with me.

AS Ray has suggested I would like to send the skins to someone in RSA to be tanned. The full mounts, few as they will be, can be done here. As far as things being accountable for in the USA, that is often not true. I sent my stuff back from Tanzania with instructions to ship by sea as I only had back skins to tan and skulls to European mount. The shipment went by air and the outfitter couldn't care less. The cost was 3x the rate quoted for sea. This was also the case with Brittish Air and Quality Fur Dressing. Each one charged me outrageous rates for what little service I received. The taxidermist here was so outraged with the delays that netted extra charges that he made a complaint with the Oklahoma Attourney General for the charges of Quality Fur Dressing. After an enquire the Attourney General said that there was a case but it had to be handeled in civil court. After consulting an attourney, I decided to let it ride as the cost of litigation would be more than I was willing to pay.

For my RSA plainsgame hunt I decided on my last hunting day to have the taxidermy done at LifeForm in White River. I only had one shoulder mount done (Kudu), the Gnu, Impala and Steenbok were Euroshield (half-skull) mounted on a wooden plaque and the warthog tusks were mounted on a wooden plaque. I find the results excellent but the best part of working with them was their attention to my specific wishes on the kudu shoulder mount. I sent to them by e-mail photographs of the kudu which showed its exceptionally thick neck. They faithfully reproduced this, taking the extra time (at no extra cost) to reproduce "my" kudu. Now, if your taxidermist is in Reno and you live in Florida you are not going to pop in on them regularly. Lifeform sent to me periodic updates (without me asking)and kept me abreast at all times. There work is probably 99% African animals and everyone on the shop knows what the animals look like when they're alive. This is an advantage. Their customers, whether local or international, also know what the animals should look like. They are a whole lot cheaper than any taxidermist in Europe. They also steered me to a good shipping agent who also was user friendly and communicative. I vote for LifeForm.

I happen to know that all of Jan's chemicals, eyes, mouthsets, etc. come from the States-so saying that US taxidermists have better materials available to them is just a ridiculous statement. Being a good taxidermist is all about the art and who does the actual work in the back room. There are several guys in RSA and a few in Namibia who have the artistry down pat, this is not something that is exclusive to US taxidermists at all, even if they do charge twice as much. As for swapped trophies, etc.-It won't happen with the more reputable names in Africa as much as you hear. We have never had a problem using Witbank Taxidermy for our clients, from just a dip and ship to having all of the work done in house. I have not had one client call me up and tell me something got switched or damaged. Never heard a complaint about the work taking too long (generally an 8 or 9 month turnaround, max.), and since they use NOVOTRANS for shipping (unless the client prefers something else), the trophies arrive safe and sound.

Of course, if you ask an American Taxidermist, those guys in Africa do crap work. That's what the American will tell you-they don't know what they are doing and have substandard materials. It's like they learned that line in whatever mailorder school they graduated from, because every one I ever met will say those words in some form or another. It's like trying to tell Remington guys that Savage rifles are better out of the box. Some people just don't want to hear it!

Shakari,
Thank you for the invitation to visit when I return to White River. I shall certainly give you a call and appreciate your offer of hospitality! I would love to visit your operation as well! Thanks again.

By the way, for those who have not been to Life Form, they don't realize what a huge operation they have (a whole city block) and the quality they produce. I was amazed at the quality of the mounted birds Zac and his crew were capable of producing. Birds are truly an art form unto themselves! A detour to Life Form is well worth the trip to see how professional they are!

I used Taxidermy Africa in 2003. The mounts, skins and skulls that I received were all mine. My instructions were followed to the letter as far as how the mounts would be postioned. The costs, including shipping, were less, actually considerably less, than having it done here as far as I could determine at the time. The mounts look as good to my eye as the vast majority of the work I see done here although I am sure superior examples are available from either continent. I took my own tags for everything and couldn't be happier. Seemed to me that I was working with professionals at every step.

I have had work done both places, in Zimbabawe I had a 54" kudu turn into a 49" when it came back here....must have been some of that "Black Magic voodoo!" or something.
Widowmaker416 is getting my work next trip!

Have everything sent to the good old USA. You have some recourse if things not done right but had to have recourse if you are here and your taxi is in Africa.
What happens if the fork lift runs a fork (accidently) thru your Kudu box and knocks off a horn? Who fixed that. I would be embarrased to go to my local guy and ask him to fix the boo boo when I did not give him the work to start with.
Kinda the same deal when a customer buys a Wall Mart gun and then wants me to fix something on it...Wal Mart doesn't have a gunsmith...I do.

quote:

Originally posted by hhmag:

I happen to know that all ... chemicals, eyes, mouthsets, etc. come from the States-so saying that US taxidermists have better materials available to them is just a ridiculous statement.

OK, so we all agree that the best mounts are done using forms, chemicals, adhesives, eyes, and mouthsets that are sculpted, developed, designed, molded and utilized by ........American taxidermists. So the decision must be made by each individual as to if the taxidermist who does the work is more artistically talented in recreating the mount. The best customer is an informed consumer.