Where? Taxidermy Namibia vs. SA vs. ship to US

[henandhunt]

In Namibia now and I’m still not certain how I want to handle my taxidermy. Home is Austin, TX
Should I:

• Have all done in Namibia?
• Dip & pack, then ship to SA taxidermist?
• Dip & pack then ship to US?

-I have heard Namibia taxidermy is not great compared to SA.
-Have 2 pieces with Splitting Image from Aug 2023 with them. Just finished but still another 3 month wait so I don’t feel like SA mounting is faster.
-my outfit uses Kings taxidermy. Per forums it’s one of the recommendations I’ve seen others mention on here along w/a few others.

Here’s what I have so far:

• Zebra - want a 3D wall mount. I know Splitting Image does this. Not sure if Kings does. And likely TX based won’t or won’t be as good. Maybe? also took the hooves to do something with. I took my last zebra hooves for lamps.
• Springbok - shoulder mount & then backskin - backskin I’m sending to someone for a purse
• Giraffe - euro mount, full flat skin, all 4 legs bones with skin & hooves attached
• Ostrich - feathers, flat skin for boots
• Gemsbok and maybe Kudu - haven’t shot yet but likely would do some sort of wall mount with them so another big 1-2 pieces that would be costly in shipping

For the giraffe this is the one I’m MOST undecided on what to do with the skin.
I’m thinking something like furniture, not a rug. Like a chair. I saw some companies at SCI & DSC I think they’re state based.
My thought is furniture will be expensive to ship so possibly find someone in US as near me as possible.

With the legs, I like the bone carving idea.
Maybe just do 1 bone carving, then wonder if possible to do a small table with the other 3 legs like a tripod style.
Open to any suggestions

So I’m thinking could ask Kings to:
-Dip & pack the Springbok back skin, the giraffe flat skin and the ostrich skin, feathers and ship that back to me.
That way I can get those items back home.
And then anything euro, just have them do it? OR

Do dip/pack w/Kings then should ship the rest to a SA taxidermist?
Basically any euros or wall mounts done by a single taxidermist? Vs split

Does that even make sense or is my assumption (pre-conceived notion based on what I’ve been told) of quality of work in Namibia vs SA wrong?

And to add, I did have some ducks shipped to USDA facility in New Braunfels TX which is 45 min from Austin TX - I saw some Africa work including a huge rhino and there worked looked good but again I’m new to Africa game so I don’t know if I could tell a bad mount from good from stellar

VERY much appreciate the help and suggestions!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Of the three options you listed, the Dip & pack, then ship to SA taxidermist makes the least sense. So your reasonable choices are either do the taxidermist work in Namibia vs doing it in the US.

FWIW, I am having Kings Taxidermy in Namibia do a full body leopard mount and a shoulder mount on a cape buffalo. They gave me a guestimate of 9-10 months to have them done and ready to ship. I feel that anything under a year is pretty good turnaround. Waiting a couple years for a taxidermist to get your stuff to you is a real negative to me.

My rationale for using Kings is I saw a bunch of their work and it's as good or better than stuff I have seen and stuff that I have. Since I need a CITES permit to import the leopard to the US, doing the taxi work and permit application concurrently saves a bunch of time. Having taxi work done in country will save you some money, but then shipping will be more expensive.

As far as doing the D&P and shipping to the US, that is what I have done with most of my trophies. There are plenty of good taxidermists in Texas, and they can surely handle whatever you want. All it takes is time and money and you can get whatever you want.

 

[Mountaineer]

How much were you quoted for the 3-D zebra?

 

[DieJager]

Lots of good taxidermists in Namibia.

 

[TXdawg]

In Namibia now and I’m still not certain how I want to handle my taxidermy. Home is Austin, TX
Should I:

• Have all done in Namibia?
• Dip & pack, then ship to SA taxidermist?
• Dip & pack then ship to US?

-I have heard Namibia taxidermy is not great compared to SA.
-Have 2 pieces with Splitting Image from Aug 2023 with them. Just finished but still another 3 month wait so I don’t feel like SA mounting is faster.
-my outfit uses Kings taxidermy. Per forums it’s one of the recommendations I’ve seen others mention on here along w/a few others.

Here’s what I have so far:

• Zebra - want a 3D wall mount. I know Splitting Image does this. Not sure if Kings does. And likely TX based won’t or won’t be as good. Maybe? also took the hooves to do something with. I took my last zebra hooves for lamps.
• Springbok - shoulder mount & then backskin - backskin I’m sending to someone for a purse
• Giraffe - euro mount, full flat skin, all 4 legs bones with skin & hooves attached
• Ostrich - feathers, flat skin for boots
• Gemsbok and maybe Kudu - haven’t shot yet but likely would do some sort of wall mount with them so another big 1-2 pieces that would be costly in shipping

For the giraffe this is the one I’m MOST undecided on what to do with the skin.
I’m thinking something like furniture, not a rug. Like a chair. I saw some companies at SCI & DSC I think they’re state based.
My thought is furniture will be expensive to ship so possibly find someone in US as near me as possible.

With the legs, I like the bone carving idea.
Maybe just do 1 bone carving, then wonder if possible to do a small table with the other 3 legs like a tripod style.
Open to any suggestions

So I’m thinking could ask Kings to:
-Dip & pack the Springbok back skin, the giraffe flat skin and the ostrich skin, feathers and ship that back to me.
That way I can get those items back home.
And then anything euro, just have them do it? OR

Do dip/pack w/Kings then should ship the rest to a SA taxidermist?
Basically any euros or wall mounts done by a single taxidermist? Vs split

Does that even make sense or is my assumption (pre-conceived notion based on what I’ve been told) of quality of work in Namibia vs SA wrong?

And to add, I did have some ducks shipped to USDA facility in New Braunfels TX which is 45 min from Austin TX - I saw some Africa work including a huge rhino and there worked looked good but again I’m new to Africa game so I don’t know if I could tell a bad mount from good from stellar

VERY much appreciate the help and suggestions!

I concur with DieJager…there are several good taxidermists in Namibia. I currently have work being done at Ingwe Wildlife Art and Nyati Wildlife Art. Both are located in the Windhoek area. I toured both of their facilities and was impressed with their work. If your schedule permits, suggest touring a few shops before making your decision. Best of luck and happy hunting!

 

[3chunter]

The shipping on dip and pack is high. I imagine shipping on a large crate with mounts will be crazy high if you had a giraffe shoulder mounted. Might not be so bad with euro.

 

[henandhunt]

How much were you quoted for the 3-D zebra?

Haven’t received the quote yet, just know they do it.

 

[henandhunt]

I concur with DieJager…there are several good taxidermists in Namibia. I currently have work being done at Ingwe Wildlife Art and Nyati Wildlife Art. Both are located in the Windhoek area. I toured both of their facilities and was impressed with their work. If your schedule permits, suggest touring a few shops before making your decision. Best of luck and happy hunting!

Thanks! Appreciate the help.
I’ll prob just stick with Kings then unless another Namibia taxidermist does the 3D zebra mount.

 

[henandhunt]

Thanks

Of the three options you listed, the Dip & pack, then ship to SA taxidermist makes the least sense. So your reasonable choices are either do the taxidermist work in Namibia vs doing it in the US.

FWIW, I am having Kings Taxidermy in Namibia do a full body leopard mount and a shoulder mount on a cape buffalo. They gave me a guestimate of 9-10 months to have them done and ready to ship. I feel that anything under a year is pretty good turnaround. Waiting a couple years for a taxidermist to get your stuff to you is a real negative to me.

My rationale for using Kings is I saw a bunch of their work and it's as good or better than stuff I have seen and stuff that I have. Since I need a CITES permit to import the leopard to the US, doing the taxi work and permit application concurrently saves a bunch of time. Having taxi work done in country will save you some money, but then shipping will be more expensive.

As far as doing the D&P and shipping to the US, that is what I have done with most of my trophies. There are plenty of good taxidermists in Texas, and they can surely handle whatever you want. All it takes is time and money and you can get whatever you want.

Thanks for the tips! I’ll prob stick with Kings then.
Sounds like they do good work. I’ll have to inquire about the 3D wall mount for the zebra and if they don’t do it then maybe see if another Namibia taxidermist does. Prob the only reason to change.

 

[Philip Glass]

In Namibia now and I’m still not certain how I want to handle my taxidermy. Home is Austin, TX
Should I:

• Have all done in Namibia?
• Dip & pack, then ship to SA taxidermist?
• Dip & pack then ship to US?

-I have heard Namibia taxidermy is not great compared to SA.
-Have 2 pieces with Splitting Image from Aug 2023 with them. Just finished but still another 3 month wait so I don’t feel like SA mounting is faster.
-my outfit uses Kings taxidermy. Per forums it’s one of the recommendations I’ve seen others mention on here along w/a few others.

Here’s what I have so far:

• Zebra - want a 3D wall mount. I know Splitting Image does this. Not sure if Kings does. And likely TX based won’t or won’t be as good. Maybe? also took the hooves to do something with. I took my last zebra hooves for lamps.
• Springbok - shoulder mount & then backskin - backskin I’m sending to someone for a purse
• Giraffe - euro mount, full flat skin, all 4 legs bones with skin & hooves attached
• Ostrich - feathers, flat skin for boots
• Gemsbok and maybe Kudu - haven’t shot yet but likely would do some sort of wall mount with them so another big 1-2 pieces that would be costly in shipping

For the giraffe this is the one I’m MOST undecided on what to do with the skin.
I’m thinking something like furniture, not a rug. Like a chair. I saw some companies at SCI & DSC I think they’re state based.
My thought is furniture will be expensive to ship so possibly find someone in US as near me as possible.

With the legs, I like the bone carving idea.
Maybe just do 1 bone carving, then wonder if possible to do a small table with the other 3 legs like a tripod style.
Open to any suggestions

So I’m thinking could ask Kings to:
-Dip & pack the Springbok back skin, the giraffe flat skin and the ostrich skin, feathers and ship that back to me.
That way I can get those items back home.
And then anything euro, just have them do it? OR

Do dip/pack w/Kings then should ship the rest to a SA taxidermist?
Basically any euros or wall mounts done by a single taxidermist? Vs split

Does that even make sense or is my assumption (pre-conceived notion based on what I’ve been told) of quality of work in Namibia vs SA wrong?

And to add, I did have some ducks shipped to USDA facility in New Braunfels TX which is 45 min from Austin TX - I saw some Africa work including a huge rhino and there worked looked good but again I’m new to Africa game so I don’t know if I could tell a bad mount from good from stellar

VERY much appreciate the help and suggestions!

I have used Trophendiste (sp?) in Windhoek and their work is excellent. The shipping time frame has been slow from Namibia lately however. I would not ship to RSA for taxidermy work.
You need to decide based on price and time how you want to go. You will have the same fees for dip and pack and about $1000 less in airfreight in my experience.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Thanks

Thanks for the tips! I’ll prob stick with Kings then.
Sounds like they do good work. I’ll have to inquire about the 3D wall mount for the zebra and if they don’t do it then maybe see if another Namibia taxidermist does. Prob the only reason to change.

By 3D wall mount for zebra, are you meaning a demask?

Take a look at this

Thread 'Unique Zebra Mount - King's Taxidermy Namibia'

Jan 20, 2017

Thought I would share my sons's zebra mount. I had never seen this type of mount before the hunt but was shown a picture and my son loved it. Thought it came out great.

• MMAL
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Taxidermy

• 

 

[jomw10]

My short answer, if you want the best taxidermy do the US. Not because there are not great taxidermy in Africa, but because you can have a lot more communication with a local taxidermist. Most African taxidermist are volume base. It’s harder to keep quality like that

 

[wesheltonj]

Dip and Ship to the US. In New Braunfels would be Double Nickle?

 

[coreydb]

Ask your PH. Their recommendations circle back to them. Just know no decision will be cheap.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Talk to Kings about the zebra damask. From what I understand, they need the entire zebra skin to do it.

 

[Betterinthebush]

I’ve gone back and forth so many times between US work and Kings.

I finally settled this morning and im sending off deposit to Adel @ Kings today. All the extra logistics of getting them here and then up to Dakota Taxidermy just started to be a huge pita.

Kings does super work and Adel was really impressive with her communication to get all the order finalized for starting of tan and fabrication. So, that’s a relief and a load off my mind.

@henandhunt , hope you come right whatever you decide and file a report on your successes.