First timer leaving in 3 weeks for 10 day plains game hunt in northern Namibia and looking for advice on local (presumably Windhoek) taxidermy and/or head & hide prep for shipping to US.

Hopeful bag will include zebra, gemsbok, eland, wildebeast, kudu, warthog, springbok, maybe hartebeast. Of those I'm thinking traditional shoulder mount for the kudu and gemsbok, hide only for zebra, tails from gemsbok & -beasts, tusks from warthog, and European-style skull mounts of the balance of the antelope species.

Prepared and shipped to US for taxidermy or should I consider local mounts and then ship?

Experienes? Thoughts? Prices? Things I should consider or avoid? Bad ideas?

Yeah, probably should have asked this 6 months ago but things are busy and I didn't.

Thanks. -WSJ

Who are you hunting with?
I visited NYATI taxidermy owned by Manfred Egerer in Windhoek a couple of years ago & was very impressed with his shop & the work I saw on hand.
Already had my taxi work line up so did not use him, but might on my next trip to Namibia.
Their e-mail is www.nyatiwildlifeart.com
Good luck

Hunting 1x1 with Dirk Smit, Farm Orpa (http://www.orpahunt.com ), north of Waterberg and southwest of Otavi.

I am also using Trophaendienste from my April hunt. If you have a chance to go to them, ask to see their ivory vault. There were some impressive tusks in there when I was there. There pricing options were also very reasonable.

I used Reiser Taxidermy, Windhoek twice and they did a good job for me. If you have it done there you "might " save 15% overall having it done here. Import to USA is easier with fully finished trophies as opposssed to dried and salted. At least coming through LAX. Do not use sea shipping instead of air shipping. Many new rules on sea shipping can screw up that way even though it is cheaper.

quote:

Originally posted by SteveGl:
Trophäendienste

The backskins from your shoulder mounts can be used to make all sorts of things.

Forget Nyati, Very poor work.
I had my 2007 animals done there and as I was a taxidermist for 20 yrs. I feel capable to judge

Another vote for Reiser Taxidermy . Getting my animals dipped and packed there in Oct.