Your PH will have connections with a local taxidermist, who in-turn will have connections with a shipping company (schooled in both air and ocean freight.)
I have shipped trophies both ways. Ocean freight was less expensive and just the travel component took longer. Although the salted/pesticide-dipped hides showed some exposure to moisture, they were just fine (no hair slippage, mounts turned out perfectly in America. I've additionally had rifles taken out of airplane storage covered with moisture and rust beginning to develop after several days in transit! We flew through storms and those compartments aren't climate controlled-same conditions your hides will endure.) I think it's better to take longer, as there are plenty of bills to pay after you've arrived home...Air is akin to buying a plane ticket to fly the heads/hides/horns home, through multiple countries, first-class. It always seems the shipper tries to talk me out of ocean freight...
Ex. 1: safari co. delivers salted hides/heads/horns to taxidermist-taxidermist performs dip/pack and courier delivers to shipping co.-shipping co. completes paperwork, crates and delivers to ocean freight co. who packs an intermodal container with many customers' trophies-freighter leaves that country and heads to American port-trophies are warehoused for customs inspection and clearance (by a local customs broker)-in many cases the customs broker either delivers or has trophies picked up by your taxidermist.
Ex. 2: everything above, excepting the trophies fly through several countries (i.e. Namib, SA) and the shipping co. must get customs clearance in all destinations. there is more work, paperwork, and added expense. The crates often sit at customs warehouses at airports-which seem to take longer and with greater expense to clear. Even though air freight is regarded as quicker, even so I've received items a year later (by air.) It made no difference, excepting in cost.
It's quite the process. By choosing wisely, you can spend the savings on additional hunts.
One thing I've never heard people make mention of is having everything properly processed (tanned, bleached of all extraneous matter) and simply express shipped (i.e. DHL) to you or your local airport. This should be capitalized upon by African businesspeople! There appear to be companies, that have a hand in the pockets of all hunters, from both sides of the pond. It's a whole 'nother industry. Your job is to fight the good fight (make your own decisions) and not waste your $. I've had some issues with customs brokers (and tanneries) on this side of the pond, but one in Atlanta is getting rave reviews these days. Waldun tannery in SC (great) picks up from ATL all the time and can simply mail the finished hides to your home or taxidermist. I've had tanneries and taxidermists write letters to the customs broker so that I may pick up myself and deliver to the professionals of my choosing...(it just made sense when I scheduled work with my truck near NYC.)
Some have mentioned recent delays in the process. I'm sure this will be alleviated somewhat next year...I have experienced delays in the past (a year is not uncommon,) but 'have always received the trophies in good order.
Now, on to voting for TRUMP!
