REPORT: Taxidermist Eastern Cape Port Elizabeth Johannesburg

[Bobpuckett]

Here is just a couple of my favorites from Umilindi. And 12 more coming in the next 2 months. all of my Africa mounts have been done by Umilindi.

 

[Diamondhitch]

All the information has been very helpful. I now have price lists for Highveld, Wild Africa, Relive, Bullseye, Taxidermy Africa and Umlindi. Just waiting for Splitting Image. I have emailed them with no luck yet. Does anyone have a price list for them? Secondly, if someone would like a price list from the others mentioned above, drop me a line. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I like some work better than others, but we all have our opinions. Price is part of it, but not everything. I agree, don't save a little money for what you believe to be something you won't enjoy for years to come. Too much invested. Choose wisely grasshopper.

Remember too that Taxidermy is more than looks, it is about durability/longevity. Proper preservation techniques cannot be seen but are the single most important factor in longevity. Many taxidermists will say their mounts are tanned but may not be, others will claim that tanning is not required, others will tan but not neutralize their hides properly. The "evidence" of claims that they have mounts on their walls that they have had on their wall in Africa for 10yrs, 20yrs etc may be less convincing if the mount is kept in a humid environment. The constant up and down of humidity will cause much faster breakdown of a hide that is not properly preserved by either allowing bugs and micro-organisms to slowly eat the hid or simply by activating the acid in a hide and slowly dissolving the roots of the hair.

Buyer beware, Quality tanning costs $$$ so if someone is cheaper than other known quality work I would be suspicious of just where the "savings" comes from.

 

[sincitynut]

I would NEVER use Wild Africa Taxidermy again, Their work is below average and I was truly disappointed with my trophies. It looks as if a 6 year old did the stitching on my shoulder mount Springbok, pictures to be posted tomorrow

 

[RickP]

I would *not* use Splitting Images taxidermy. Our PH had his lodge filled this their stuff and it just didn't look right. Tufts of hair in the wrong spots, eyes didn't seems right, etc. Since we had our own taxidermist here in the States, we did decide to let Splitting Images handle our dip and pack. What a disaster! We have tons of hair slippage from poor handling of the hides. My poor reedbuck is half-naked on his face. If I'd have known it would be this bad, I wouldn't have had it mounted but just saved off the horns for another hide later. VERY disappointed!

 

[Bobpuckett]

I would *not* use Splitting Images taxidermy. Our PH had his lodge filled this their stuff and it just didn't look right. Tufts of hair in the wrong spots, eyes didn't seems right, etc. Since we had our own taxidermist here in the States, we did decide to let Splitting Images handle our dip and pack. What a disaster! We have tons of hair slippage from poor handling of the hides. My poor reedbuck is half-naked on his face. If I'd have known it would be this bad, I wouldn't have had it mounted but just saved off the horns for another hide later. VERY disappointed!

I've never use splitting image taxidermey but have heard some good things about them, it may have been the way your capes were handled at your outfitters. But I did check them out and the cost of taxidermy work is almost double of the the taxidermist that I have used. To give you an idea a full body mount by my taxidermist for a Baboon $750.00 Splitting Image $1550.00 go figure.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Finished trophies are only as good as each part in a long chain.
Starts with you...

 

[HuntingGold]

I found Wild Africa Taxidermy to be production work at best. I got what I paid for.
It doesn't hold a candle to the taxidermy you can get here in the states.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Taxidermy is one thing, SHIPPING is another where you can get "hosed". Make sure you are using one that is competent and knows the ins and outs of shipping to your country. I'm dealing with one now that doesn't and it hasn't been fun.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Anyone want to share their preferred shipper? Do I HAVE to use the same shipper the chosen taxidermist uses?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Get personal references of your African shipper lest you repeat my recent experience. My trophies left Johannesburg on July 1. They MAY be in Philly tomorrow, July 15. Between poor communication by the Jburg shipper to the importer (me) and a few incompetent air carrier employees, it's been a frustrating two week PITA. From speaking with other hunters, this is not unusual when importing from South Africa to the United States.

 

[RickP]

I've never use splitting image taxidermey but have heard some good things about them, it may have been the way your capes were handled at your outfitters. But I did check them out and the cost of taxidermy work is almost double of the the taxidermist that I have used. To give you an idea a full body mount by my taxidermist for a Baboon $750.00 Splitting Image $1550.00 go figure.

It could well be that the PH mishandled the hides, but he has some pretty big dollar guys hunt with him so I can't believe they'd be too impressed if their stuff got screwed up but then maybe they get special treatment. Our local taxidermist figured it was along the dip and pack process that things went pear-shaped and he's experienced enough that I trust his judgement. The first trip we used dipandpack.com and everything showed up in great shape and we'll pay extra to get them to do it on our next hunt.

 

[Huli Cat Tom]

I just got my order back from Umlindi. I was disappointed. I asked for black lacquer plaques, got lightly brown stained plaques. European mounts have lots of yellow/brown on them, look like the skulls still have animal fat and oil on them. FYI.

 

[TokkieM]

I hunt myself and have tried a few of the Taxidermist in the EC, many deliver lip service and the quality of the mounts in the showroom is not always a good indication of what you are going to get. I have used Karoo Taxidermy for the past 6 years and 40+ trophy mounts for myself and then a number of clients too. I can honestly say I have been happy with their work and even more so with the service. I often dont hunt on Sundays and they have opened the showroom for me and clients everytime we wanted to go there.

 

[Bobpuckett]

I just got my order back from Umlindi. I was disappointed. I asked for black lacquer plaques, got lightly brown stained plaques. European mounts have lots of yellow/brown on them, look like the skulls still have animal fat and oil on them. FYI.

Really Sorry to hear that, I've used Uilindi 3 times and got good work and when the one time there was a mistake he made good on it Have you contacted Cecil yet?

 

[johnnyblues]

Hello all,
Looking for advice on choosing a taxidermist on the Eastern Cape near Port Elizabeth. Is there one that you preferred or disliked and why? I have some info on Wild Africa Taxidermy and Highveld near Johannesburg. Any others would be great. There does seem to be a large price difference between some and I don't know why. Any news on Bullseye or Splitting Image. My PH/Outfitter will deliver within a reasonable range. Just trying to find one who offers a clean, detailed representation on the animal. We have all seen some bad work.

Look into Relive Africa taxidermy they have been getting rave reviews. I ve called several references and they were very pleaded with the results.

 

[Christina Nyczepir]

I would NEVER use Wild Africa Taxidermy again, Their work is below average and I was truly disappointed with my trophies. It looks as if a 6 year old did the stitching on my shoulder mount Springbok, pictures to be posted tomorrow

I had a chance on two occasions to visit with Wild Africa when I was in the EC area in July. The staff were very nice and professional, as well as the owner. I liked the examples they had in their showroom, but was not at all pleased with the other trophies in the work area. I think if they were my trophies, I would have cried. Something about the paint process they use and the colors leaves the animals looking unnatural. They just dipped my animals (it's who the Outfitter I just hunted with uses), and they are now being shipped here to the states through another company.

Grafton Cromwell (here in Virginia) will be doing the taxidermy work on the animals from this recent hunt. He comes highly recommended by personal friends of mine as well as others, and I'm looking forward to working with him. Grafton has the capes sent out to a tanning company in the mid-west first.

If you're going to use a taxidermist in the Eastern Cape area of SA, I'd recommend using African Wildlife Artistry. It's who Andrew Pringle, owner of Crusader Safari (I hunted with them in 2012), uses and recommends. You can see their work in some of my photos.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Look into Relive Africa taxidermy they have been getting rave reviews. I ve called several references and they were very pleaded with the results.

I look at their facebook page periodically for inspiration.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Relive-Africa-Taxidermy-South-Africa/180274468653002

 

[johnnyblues]

Oh boy. Anyone heard anything about Splitting Image, Karoo, Wild Africa, Hunters and Collectors or Taxidermy Africa? Too many choices.

My PH in SA had reccomended I use Hunter and Collectors I have not yet been there but I think Relive does better work at least from there face book page . References were great also.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Personal opinion from experience, I think on quality, H&C is superior.

 

[johnnyblues]

Personal opinion from experience, I think on quality, H&C is superior.

Thats interesting...They were my first choice until reading alot of great reports here on Relive taxidermy