Mwika Beekeeping Project

Tanzania

AKP Project Since 1999

Category:

conservation75 enterprise75

AKP helps beekeepers create new products and broaden markets for a delicious, traditional food

Historically, beekeepers in rural villages have used bark to make beehives, leaving the trees vulnerable to disease. With the help of AKP’s Mwika Beekeeping Project hives are constructed from wood taken from sustainably managed forests, which encourages both the continuation of beekeeping and the preservation of a healthy environment. The honey produced generates much-needed income while also providing families with a traditional food.

AKP’s support has increased the number of beekeepers in the Mwika community from an initial 20 to more than 120. The project has enabled producers to increase the number of markets and products. Recently the project was expanded to include the production of beeswax candles and soap. Extra honey is sold to Sanctuary Swala and Sanctuary Kusini, where it is used for cooking and served to guests. It is also for sale in the Camp Bush Boutiques, with all proceeds going back to the project in Mwika Village.

Take a short drive from Sanctuary Swala to Mwika or Mwikanza Village to witness a family’s beekeeping operation, where you see dozens of hives hanging from trees covering an entire hillside. Learn about the production process, including how the honey is packaged and sold, while tasting a fresh piece of honeycomb.

A&K can include a visit to Mwika or Mwikanza Village on a Tailor Made Journey to Tanzania. Contact our offices in Australia, the UK or the USA for assistance in creating an itinerary just for you.