1st Safari to S. Africa

[GoinGrey]

This will be my first trip to South Africa for a 10-day safari hunt. What are some "must knows" for planning? Like, Do I need a broker to get trophies cleared? Is it better to have trophies mounted in Africa or here in the US? What's the best shipping company to use? Who do you recommend as Taxidermist? What is the basic cost for shipping? And I'm sure I will have many more questions, but thanks in advance for any info to help out. This definitely will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and I'm super excited to have a chance to take advantage of it.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Welcome to AH.
Cruise the forum. Your questions are not the first.
Search: "trophy shipping costs" Plenty of answers.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[mark-hunter]

And I'm sure I will have many more questions

Follow the stream. Ask question when they pop up. Focus on forthcoming hunt, and prepare for it. Most importantly train to shoot from stick.

Shipping and taxidermy, many times discussed, this is the thing not entirely financially predictable.

For a start, you must have good idea, what you will hunt, and what taxidermy you will require, skins, shoulder mounts, full mounts, scull mounts, etc
Start your research from that idea.

But keep in mind, final bill will be hard to predict. Expect small financial surprises from time to time (not in the form of discount).

Next is timing. you could get trophies in a 6 months (very optimistic), or in a 2 year time. One part is shipping, and another part is taxidermy shops booking and schedule.

My experience is one year from hunt to the wall. In average. And I had to fix small shipping damages on few trophies. (like cracks on scull, or missing teeth, etc)
Taxidermy and shipping logistic is weak point in system.

One more thing: you will have great experience, take good photo camera with you, take as much as possible pictures.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[JimP]

If you have never cleared anything through US Customs it is best to hire a broker. They not only handle things on the US side but a number of them will make sure all the paperwork is in order in South Africa.

The US or South Africa for the mounts are your choice. If you have a taxidermist that you have worked with go and talk to them about the mounts that you might want. I've done it both ways.

Shipping will depend on the size of the crate. A number of finished mounts will raise the cost even with the South Africa shops being experts in packing. A dip and pack for mounts to be done here in the US will be quite a bit cheaper.

I found that the money that I saved in mounts was taken up in shipping. But I got my mounts 1 to 2 years quicker.

 

[Houston Bill]

Yes you should get a broker, Coppersmith is a good one. I have used the folks at Pro Cargo for over 20 years for several safaris and never had an issue or a lengthily delay in getting my stiff cleared.

I have had my African trophy taxidermy done both here in Houston area and also in Africa, mostly in Africa because of the cost savings. I always check taxidermy pricing before I go to Africa and even with the increased freight costs in the past few years it has always been cheaper for me to have it done in South Africa. And soften quite a bit cheaper. I have always used ocean freight but it take 2 to 3 months longer than air freight. I have used Highveld Taxidermy for over 20 years and they have been very good to me. Based on feedback from others I know both Splitting Image and Life Form have good reputations.

Shipping costs depend on the volume and to a lesser extent the weight of your crates and whether you ship ocean or air freight. You can ask you taxidermist for approximate create size(s) based on the animals you expect to shoot and what type of taxidermy you want...shoulder mounts, pedestal mounts with pedestal, full mount etc.

Good luck with the hunt. Once you hunt in Africa you will be hooked!

 

[Mekaniks]

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Welcome welcome welcome
Enjoy the hunt
Where u hunting will onviously male a difference as to choosing a taxidermist
Also your outfitter will answer a lot of these questions for you

 

[KuduKiller]

Like Brickburn said there are plenty of threads here on the questions you may and will have. Just take a look around. Welcome and have fun planning! There is more knowledge here than you could imagine so buckle up!

 

[Kudu2024]

WELCOME. I am a newbie here but this page has information on anything and everything. I have seen questions like this on other posts and I guess I was fortunate to find CJ Safaris. I never handled any of this. My outfitter explained and handled all of it. From start to finish, from all my original paperwork, help with flights, to getting my mounts back. NO additional cost - they did it all.

GOOD LUCK and remember it's VERY addicting.

 

[kdenn]

@GoinGrey all the information you need for African safari is available on this website. Travel agents are useful if traveling with firearms, gun permit assistance and meet and greet can be arranged. Several shipping brokers and taxidermists are sponsors here. Search the archives for tons of useful information, we were lucky to find this forum before our first trip and found the information invaluable. Lots of people here with tremendous knowledge of hunting in Africa. Enjoy your research.

 

[AZDAVE]

Congratz on getting your first hunt scheduled. There are a number of steps/processes from start to finish.

1. Select outfitter to hunt with.
A. What country
B. Visa'a and shots where required.
2. Set dates for the trip.
3. Contact travel agency that specializes in safari travel. I have used Gracy travel for my 9 trips. Travel express that is a sponsor here on AH is used by many here and the folks I have spoke with really praise them.
A. Have them setup a meet and greet for you coming off the plane it is a few dollars well spent for your first trip.
B. Have them set up the travel/health/evac insurance (Your normal health insurance doesn't cover you in africa)
4. Work with a Firearms pre approval company to have your paperwork pre approved it will make you life easier. (Gracy provides this as part of their service) There is a number of companies that offer this service. You ask and folks here will give recommendations.
5. Kinda have a idea of what animals you plan on hunting and have some extra funds for that animal you didn't know you wanted that walks out . Will also suggest you do a night hunt while there for some of the small night predators.
A. Have a idea on what you want for taxidermy so you can tell the PH and he the skinners so that they can cape your animal for the mount your want.
B. If possible have your PH take you by a taxidermy company and take a tour.
C. for Taxidermy Having it done in Africa you will be sure your animals look like they are suppose to. and in most cases will be done quicker than having it done here in the states. The costs due to higher shipping cost will almost be a wash. Just make sure your taxidermist in the states knows how to mount with correct poses as you don't want your kudu to look like an elk with kudu horns.
6. You will need an Import agent to assist in getting the Mounts cleared with fish and wildlife and to your house if you have them mounted in Or I have have them dip and packed will then need to be cleared and to your taxidermist.
7. Work out with the outfitter to settle up the final bill Do they take credit card or do you wire funds when you get home.
8. Practice practice practice shooting off sticks and in field positions.
9. Get in shape!!!!!

Last Have a great time talk in all the sights, sounds, and smells of your safari.