For international hunters planning a thrilling safari in South Africa, one of the most exciting aspects is bringing home your trophies as a lasting memory of the adventure. However, navigating the process of exporting hunting trophies can seem daunting. There are two primary options: Dip and Ship (where raw trophies are processed and shipped for mounting in your home country) and Mounting in South Africa (where trophies are fully prepared and shipped as finished products). In this blog, we’ll break down the procedures for both options and explain why having your trophies mounted in South Africa is the smarter, more efficient, and cost-effective choice.
Option 1: Dip and Ship – The Long Road Home
The "Dip and Ship" method involves sending minimally processed trophies (raw hides and skulls) to your home country, where the mounting process is completed. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
Movement of Trophies from Hunting Outfitter to Taxidermy in South Africa
After your hunt, your outfitter transports the trophies to a local South African taxidermist to begin the export preparation process.
Dipping Process in South African Taxidermy
The trophies undergo "dipping," a preservation process that includes salting hides and disinfecting skulls to meet international health and safety regulations.
Shipping Process from South Africa
Once dipped and packed, the trophies are shipped to your home country via an international freight service, requiring export permits from South Africa.
Clearance by a Shipping Agent in the Home Country
Upon arrival, a shipping agent clears the trophies through customs, ensuring compliance with import regulations (e.g., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requirements for U.S. hunters).
Transport to an Authorized Taxidermist
The raw trophies are sent to a taxidermist in your home country authorized to handle imported game.
Dip Trophies Received by an Authorized Taxidermist in the USA
The taxidermist inspects the shipment, confirming the condition of the hides and skulls after their long journey.
Transport to the Skin Tanning Company
The hides are sent to a specialized tanning company to be fully tanned and prepared for mounting.
Cape and Skin Tanning at a Tanning Company
The tanning process can take weeks or months, depending on the backlog and quality required.
Shipping to the Hunter’s Taxidermist
Once tanned, the hides and skulls are shipped back to your chosen taxidermist for mounting.
Mounting of Trophies by the Hunter’s Taxidermist
The taxidermist mounts the trophies, a process that can take additional weeks or months based on their workload.
Shipping to the Hunter’s House – Finished Trophies
Finally, the completed trophies are delivered to your doorstep.
Option 2: Mounting in South Africa – The Streamlined Solution
The alternative is to have your trophies fully mounted by a South African taxidermist before shipping. Here’s how it works:
Movement of Trophies from Hunting Outfitter to Taxidermy in South Africa
Just like the first option, your outfitter transports the trophies to a local taxidermist.
Mounting of Trophies
The South African taxidermist processes, tans, and mounts your trophies into their final form, ready for display.
Shipping Process from South Africa
The finished trophies are packed and shipped to your home country with the necessary export permits.
Clearance by a Shipping Agent in Home Country
A shipping agent handles customs clearance, which is often simpler for finished trophies than raw materials.
Shipping to the Hunter’s House – Finished Trophies
The completed trophies arrive at your home, ready to be unpacked and displayed.
Why Mounting in South Africa is the Better Choice
While both options get your trophies home, mounting them in South Africa offers significant advantages over the Dip and Ship method. Here’s why:
Fewer Steps, Faster Process
Compare the 11 steps of Dip and Ship to the 5 steps of mounting in South Africa. Fewer steps mean less time waiting and fewer opportunities for delays or errors. South African taxidermists can complete the mounting process in a fraction of the time it takes to ship raw trophies overseas and coordinate multiple vendors.
Cost Savings
Contrary to past misconceptions, mounting and exporting finished trophies from South Africa is often cheaper. You avoid additional shipping costs (e.g., from tanning companies to taxidermists in your home country), as well as higher labor rates in countries like the U.S. or Europe.
Expertise in Local Wildlife
South African taxidermists have unparalleled knowledge of the region’s game animals. They understand the anatomy, coloration, and natural poses of species like kudu, springbok, or lion in exquisite detail, ensuring a more authentic and high-quality mount.
Easier Solutions for Skin Issues
If a trophy’s skin is damaged or flawed, South African taxidermists can source a replacement cape locally with ease—something far more challenging and expensive to arrange in your home country.
Simpler Export and Inspection Process
Exporting finished mounts involves less red tape than shipping raw, dipped trophies, which are subject to stricter biosecurity and health regulations. This difference becomes even clearer during customs inspections. With Dip and Ship, consignments arrive as dry-salted capes and skins, folded with the hair on the inside. Airport personnel, who often have little interest in carefully handling your trophies, must unpack and unfold each skin to identify the species and ensure compliance. This process risks damage to your precious hides. In contrast, mounted trophies are shipped in crates where inspectors can simply open the lid, look around inside, and verify the contents without unpacking or handling the items. They close the lid, and you’re done—no fuss, no risk.
The Verdict
For international hunters, having your trophies mounted in South Africa before shipping is the clear winner. It’s faster, more cost-effective, and leverages the expertise of professionals who know African game inside and out. The simpler customs process for mounted trophies also reduces the risk of damage during inspections, unlike the invasive unpacking required for dipped consignments. With fewer steps and less hassle, you’ll have your stunning trophies on display sooner—without the headache of coordinating a lengthy Dip and Ship process across borders.
So, when planning your South African hunt, talk to your outfitter about partnering with a reputable local taxidermist. You’ll save time, money, and stress—and bring home a masterpiece that truly honors your safari experience.
Happy hunting!
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