Lauriston Taxidermy

Welcome to Lauriston Taxidermy

About Us

Lauriston Taxidermy is a medium to large sized taxidermy located on the outskirts of Grahamstown in the eastern cape of Southern Africa.
We handle in the region of 3000-4000 items per annum, collect trophies countrywide and ship worldwide.
We are experts in the field of taxidermy and take great pride in our work.
All clients, outfitters and agents are welcome.

The ultimate hunting trophy

Our beautiful displays are a sight to behold and our attention to detail is impeccable.
If you are looking for great taxidermy service, fantastic customs relations and exceptional workmanship, look no further than Lauriston Taxidermy.
You will not be disappointed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please feel free to ask any questions.
There is no such thing as a silly question.
You are more than welcome to contact Greg at any time with any queries or concerns.

What options do I have for my trophies?

You have 3 options
1 Process your trophies with Lauriston Taxidermy.
2 Have your trophies prepared as dip & pack to be processed by a taxidermist of your choice back home.
3 To leave your trophies and do nothing with them.

How do I get my trophies to Lauriston Taxidermy?

We will collect your trophies from the premises you conducted your safari.
We collect trophies countrywide.

What is Dip & Pack?

Dip & Pack is the preparation of your trophies to be exported as per international customs.
Skulls will be cleaned, dried and bleached with Hydrogen Peroxide.
Skins will be cleaned, dried, carbo dusted and folded.
There is a minimum drying period of 90 days as per international customs on all skulls and skins.
All Dip & Pack going to Mexico, skins will go through a Formic solution with a ph level varying between 2.5 – 3.0 for a minimum duration of 72 hours.
This is Mexican custom.
Once all skulls and skins have completed the minimum drying period required, they will be individually wrapped in bubble wrap and crated.

Is it more financially viable to have my trophies processed with Lauriston Taxidermy or locally back home?

No doubt you will be told by your local taxidermist that it’s more viable to have it done locally back home.
The reality is as follows.
If you take the cost of Dip & Pack and the costs of shipping thereof, these combined costs will pretty much cover the additional costs of freight on processed trophies.
Therefore the costs are pretty much the same provided their pricing is as competitive as ours.
The big advantage is that if they were to be processed with us, the end result would be on your wall a lot sooner.

What are turn around times on trophies?

Dip & Pack – 90 days.
Shields + tanning of skins – 6 months.
Mounted trophies 9-12 months.
These timelines vary on the timing of your trophies during the season.
If your trophies come in early in the season, these timelines will be substantially quicker.
These timelines are based on out the taxidermy, shipping is not included.

What do I need to do to get my trophies shipped back home?

Shipping is of no inconvenience to our clients.
We handle all permit applications and administration thereof.

What are the costs of shipping my trophies back home?

Shipping is obviously a expense we work very hard on trying to keep to a minimum.
The pricing thereof would be relevant to the services you request.
You will be offered air freight and sea freight options.
Shipping is all relevant to the size and weight of your crate.
Lauriston Taxidermy are experts at crating as tightly and securely possible.
Rates vary on availability and routes, therefore impossible to give any accurate estimates.
On average, a consignment of 10 animals, big and small, would vary in the range of the following guidelines.
Dip & Pack plus/minus $1000 – $1500.
Processed trophies plus/minus $2000 – $2500.
These are estimates, could be a little less or more.

How long will it take to ship my trophies?

Shipping is a timely process as there is a lot of administration involved with the applications of import and export permits.
This duration normally takes 2-3 months.
At times it can be sooner.

Can I ship my trophies together with a friend?

This depends on the legislation of your country.
We can advise you on this.

Can I ship Dip & Pack together with fully processed trophies?

This depends on the legislation of your country.
We can advise you on this.

Can I have my skins tanned in South Africa to be mounted by my taxidermist locally back home?

South Africa uses different tanning chemicals more suited for our species as per the Americas and Europe.
Rehydration has been a issue in the past.
We recommend to either process with us or Dip & Pack only.

What are Admin & Crating fees for?

Admin & Crating fees include the costs of administration and permit applications, also the costs of labour and material of crating.

What are payment options?

We are open to 3 forms of payment.
1 Cash
2 Wire Transfers
3 Credit transactions
On credit transactions we need to charge a additional fee of 3% due to bank charges.
50% deposit to start the processing of trophies.
Balance to be settled on completion of trophies.
Once trophies are settled in full, we will crate trophies and get shipment started.
We are more than open to negotiate any payment options with you if the above does not work for you.

Please feel free to contact us

Also find us on Facebook
Profile ( Greg Dickson)
We look forward to hearing from you and accommodating you.