NW Ligthelm - Taxidermist & Co Owner

NW Ligthelm has professionally been trained by the previous owner, Piet Smit.

I am in the fortunate position to combine my passion for hunting together with my talents for taxidermy work. I started hunting since I was 9 years old and has grown into a very keen and ethical trophy hunter, naturalist and conservationist.

Being such a dedicated hunter, I serve as an active member of the Bushveld Hunters and Game Conservation Association. As a hunters instructor I present lectures to new aspiring hunters to enable the existence of the hunting industry in South Africa.

I am a qualified official measurer for South African Record book, Rowland Ward and SCI.

Although we have a very qualified team of workers, I do the modelling of all the trophies myself. Each and every trophy is thoroughly checked by myself before leaving our premises. We guarantee a product as close to the original animal as humanly possible, not just in anatomy, but in posture and expression as well.

Tribute to Piet Smit

Piet Smit, previous owner of and taxidermist at Safari Taxidermy, was renowned as one of the best taxidermists in South Africa, has been a keen hunter and nature lover since childhood. His hunting trips in South Africa and various parts of Africa have enabled

him to spend countless hours in nature, studying African animals. He first started doing part-time taxidermy in 1969 and turned full time taxidermist in 1978 when his hobby became his lifelong occupation and Safari Taxidermy was established.

He was an active member of the Bushveld Hunters Association, which he has served in various capacities for the last 30 years.

In 1989 he was awarded the coveted Musgrave award - an honorary once a lifetime award to a hunter on account of his active, disciplined and dedicated hunting, as well as his contribution towards the hunting community and organised sport hunting in South Africa. He was an official measurer of Rowland Ward, SCI and the South African record book.

Piet was co-author of a renowned practical hunting guide (Hunting Africa) and a member of the Association of Commercial Taxidermists, as well as the Taxidermists Association of South Africa.

Piet Smit died on 23 March 2005. All here at Safari Taxidermy are going to miss him.

N.W. Ligthelm has taken over the reins as new taxidermist and co-owner of Safari Taxidermy. He has been trained by Piet Smit.