Learn beekeeping from people who do it every day.
A beginner-friendly training programme from Brother Bee ZA: online lessons, a practical session with live hives, an assessment and a certificate of attendance.
Hands-on, practical and beginner-friendly.
Our training is run by Brother Bee ZA, a working beekeeping and bee-relocation business. You learn from real hive work, not just theory, and you finish knowing how to approach a hive safely.
Course dates are to be announced. Enquire now and we will let you know as soon as dates are confirmed.
Who the training is for
- Complete beginners who are curious about bees
- Homeowners and landowners who want to keep bees
- Small farmers and growers who want to understand pollination
- Anyone who wants to lose their fear of bees and learn to work with them safely
From bee biology to honey harvest.
The core topics below are covered across the online course and the practical session. The full curriculum is shared with you when you enquire.
Bee biology and colony structure
The queen, workers and drones, and how a colony works.
Hive inspection
Opening, reading and closing a hive calmly.
Bee safety and behaviour
Protective clothing, smoke, reading defensive behaviour.
Equipment
What you need, what you don’t, and how to use it.
Queen and swarm management
Keeping a colony strong and dealing with swarming.
Bee diseases and pests
Spotting problems early.
Honey harvesting and processing
Harvesting, straining and handling honey hygienically.
Bee colony management
Seasons, hive placement and routine checks.
Conservation
Why bees matter and how to keep them safe.
Learn online, then get hands-on.
- Watch the online video course and read the Beginner Guide PDF in your own time
- Use the document and template pack for your own records
- Join a practical session, where you see and work a live hive
- Complete the assessment and receive your certificate of attendance and a honeycomb gift
Get a taste of the course: the free Starter Edition.
Before you choose a package, download the free Starter Edition of our Beginners Beekeeping Guide. It is written for South African beekeepers and the African honey bee, and shows you exactly how we teach.
- Why bees matter
- South Africa’s two honey bees, and the law
- How a colony works
- Five things to do before you start
- Your starter kit
- Getting your first bees
- Stings and first aid
- The beekeeping year at a glance
- What to do if you find bees
14 pages, 9 lessons. Every package includes the full guide (66 pages, 23 chapters) plus the video lessons.
Choose your package.
Every package includes the online video course, the full Beginner Guide PDF (try the free Starter Edition), template pack, practical session, assessment, certificate of attendance and a honeycomb gift.
Bee-Curious
- Online video course and guide
- Document and template pack
- Practical session and assessment
- Certificate of attendance and a honeycomb gift
- Bee suit hire available (R100)
Bee Ready
- Everything in Bee-Curious
- Starter kit
- WhatsApp community
- Continued mentorship (short period)
- Colony opportunity
- Bee suit hire available (R100)
The Bee-Keeper
- Everything in Bee Ready
- Bee suit included
- Extended continued mentorship
- Colony opportunity
- Hive maintenance support
Colony opportunity: Brother Bee ZA offers Bee Ready and The Bee-Keeper participants a colony at a discounted price, to help ease the cost of starting out in beekeeping.
Compare the packages
| What is included | Bee-Curious | Bee Ready | The Bee-Keeper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online video course | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beginner Guide PDF | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document / template pack | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Practical session | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assessment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Certificate of attendance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Honeycomb gift | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Starter kit | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bee suit | – | – | ✓ |
| WhatsApp community | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Continued mentorship | – | ✓ | ✓✓ |
| Colony opportunity | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hive maintenance support | – | – | ✓ |
Prices are per participant. Practical session details and course dates are shared when you enquire.
🛒 Online store coming soon. Enrol or order a starter kit on WhatsApp for now — see our online store page.
Beginner guidance after the course
Bee Ready and The Bee-Keeper both include continued mentorship (Bee Ready for a short period, The Bee-Keeper extended), and every package gives you the templates and guide to keep learning.
Learn for free on TikTok
Follow @brotherbeesa for live hive inspections and everyday beekeeping lessons before you enrol.
Ready to start your beekeeping journey?
Tell us you are interested and we will send you dates and details as soon as they are confirmed.
