As a side note, we ran number on using a local guy that does very good work. He has done a lot of African animals. We compared his prices to Splitting Image. We figured if shipping was 5k we were saving money and coming out ahead. Shipping by sea was well over that and by air you can add another 5k+ to that price. With today's cost of shipping I'm not sure what the best way to go. Our order was large and our two crates combined are 1300#s. So we may be the exception and not the rule.
Have read many stories about hair slippage, skins coming back damaged, capes are harder to come by stateside vs in Africa. Damaged mounts, people have experienced out of pocket repairs as well as the company in Africa telling them where to send them to for repair and customer was not out of pocket. The key is picking the right company. Our PH is setup with Splitting Image, for us that was a win, less foot work. He would ask us how things were going with the mounts, he was not afraid to make a call on our behalf if needed. In my eyes that goes a long ways. If things get a little sideways a taxidermy company is probably not going to be accommodating. If a PH the brings in a couple hundred animals or more a year makes a call, it probably carries a little more weight. It is just more food for thought. The best resource you have is this forum, many people have answered my quest along the way and I can't thank them enough.
Either way having talked with several people about shipping. Everyone recently has been a little taken back with the cost of shipping. Just plan for that, I believe I read on here at one time the taxidermy bill would be about equal to the safari, the person the wrote that was dead on in my case. I did not believe it until I experienced it.
Good luck on your adventure!