The Reserves
Eastern Cape
5,500 hectares
A Safe Haven with an outgrower programme for honey bees
One of our Safe Haven Partners is a wildlife conservation farm in the Eastern Cape that has chosen to remain anonymous to help protect its wildlife from poaching. Known as The Reserves, this partner has committed 5,500 hectares to The Bee Effect Safe Havens for Bees Programme.
The Reserves is also the first Safe Haven Partner to combine its land commitment with an Outgrowers Programme, creating opportunities for resident farm workers to become trained beekeepers.
Conservation & sustainable livelihoods
As part of its commitment to conservation and the restoration of biodiversity corridors, The Reserves has invested in training farm workers in beekeeping. This initiative supports healthy honey bee populations while creating new skills, income opportunities and long-term stewardship of the land.
By increasing forage for honey bees and providing a safe environment for managed hives, the programme benefits both biodiversity and the people who care for it.
Our Newbees
Through the Outgrowers Programme, participants receive practical beekeeping training, mentoring and the equipment needed to establish their own apiaries.
Each Newbee manages their hives, with the harvested honey sold back to the landowner. A portion of the income repays the initial investment in equipment and ongoing support, creating a sustainable model that enables future beekeepers to join the programme.
The Newbees also form part of our Bee Removal Team, relocating rescued honey bee colonies to the safety of the reserve, where they continue to contribute to healthy pollinator populations.
A growing success
The programme has grown steadily since it began. What started with just two hives has expanded into a thriving apiary, supported by rescued colonies and natural swarms that have established themselves in catchment hives across the reserve.
Every new hive strengthens the resilience of the local honey bee population while adding to the long-term sustainability of the programme.
This partnership demonstrates how conservation, sustainable agriculture and community development can work together. By protecting habitat, supporting honey bees and creating opportunities for people, The Reserves is helping build a more resilient future for both pollinators and biodiversity.
