Ethiopian Beekeeping

[eddiespangle]

I've just returned from a trip to the Ethiopian Highlands - the Simien National Park. I managed to spot a number of hives, they apear to be placed in Lime Trees - the design is traditional and seems to be a hybrid of Skeps and Top Bar Hives (although there are no bars), I've seen a similar design in North Africa and in the Med. Some snaps attached, the latter ones were taken, covertly, in the natural history museum in Addis.

 

[Norton]

The bees from that area have recently been described as a separate subspecies: Apis mellifera simensis

 

[WelshPaul]

Check out bees for development, they specialise in all this stuff. Went to one of the talks last month and found it very interesting.

 

[RoofTops]

Looks like a mud/straw tube - with a thatched roof! I guess the roof is to provide shade and/or protection against rain.

I've seen similar clay pipes used in Oman. I think the comb has to be cut out.

 

[WelshPaul]

The ones in Uganda etc are the bark from trees, carefully peeled off then rolled around with wooden spikes holding it together.

 

[eddiespangle]

Simien Mountains

I didn't meet a beefarmer but i heard that they do rely on natural swarms to fill their hives. I purchased a jar of set-honey for about 110 Birr (£4.50ish) it's delicious.