Tanzania Sets Stage for Apimondia 2027 with Inspiring Api Tourism Showcase in Meru.



*MERU, TANZANIA — July 14, 2025* —

 Tanzania’s readiness to host the Apimondia International Apicultural Congress in 2027 received a strong boost today as members of the Apimondia Executive Council and the local organizing committee toured BEEtopia a unique stingless beekeeping conservation farm on the slopes of Mount Meru.


BEEtopia, founded by Warren Steyn, is fast becoming a symbol of Tanzania’s innovative approach to api-tourism and bee conservation. Located at the edge of Arusha National Park, this tranquil haven offers visitors rare insights into the hidden world of stingless bees a remarkable resource often overshadowed by the country’s famous big-game wildlife.


“We have about 12 species of stingless bees in Tanzania and four of them thrive right here,” Steyn told the delegation. “Our mission is not just about honey it’s about conservation, research, education, and sustaining our communities without destroying wild colonies. We want people to leave here appreciating the little things that keep the big things alive.”


Through its network of local beekeepers across Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, BEEtopia trains farmers on sustainable colony splitting, packaging honey for local and international markets, and educating tourists about the vital role of bees in pollination and biodiversity.


Timoth Mdinka, Managing Director of Learning and Discovery Africa (LAND Africa) and a member of the Apimondia 2027 local organizing committee, emphasized the crucial link between beekeeping and Tanzania’s booming safari industry.


“Up here in northern Tanzania, we are the heart of the country’s tourism hub,” Mdinka said. “We keep telling safari companies: ‘Think bees, think bees, think bees.’ Api-tourism adds unique value tourists can start their trip with bees before heading to the Serengeti or Kilimanjaro. This diversity keeps them in Arusha longer and spreads the benefits wider.”


Mdinka revealed that new api-tourism itineraries are already taking shape to keep visitors in the region for an extra two days a strategic plan to boost local businesses and communities.


David Mukomana, President of the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa, hailed Tanzania’s leadership in promoting stingless bee research. “There is a proposal for a global working group on stingless bees that will bring Asia, Africa, and Latin America together. The knowledge here at BEEtopia will be invaluable in shaping that effort,” he said.


Mukomana invited Tanzanian experts to join upcoming sessions in Copenhagen this year where a guidebook showcasing Tanzania’s api-tourism gems will be launched a clear sign that Tanzania’s story is resonating globally.


Deputy Secretary General in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Commissioner Benedict Wakulyamba, assured the Apimondia team that Tanzania is fully prepared to deliver an exceptional congress in 2027.


“The Government is committed to ensuring that Apimondia 2027 in Arusha becomes a landmark event not just for Tanzania but for the entire African continent,” Wakulyamba said. “Beyond our stunning landscapes and big wildlife, our country has a wealth of lesser-known natural treasures like stingless bees. We stand ready to support every stakeholder to make this a success.”


As the delegation wrapped up their field visit, Warren Steyn summed up the day’s spirit: “Api-tourism is about opening people’s eyes to the tiny workers that keep our ecosystems alive. If we get this right, Tanzania will not only host Apimondia we will inspire the world.”


Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, the Conservation Commissioner at Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), said that with BEEtopia and a committed network of local champions, Tanzania’s path to Apimondia 2027 is buzzing with promise.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muslim Hassanali Returns to Politics, Seeks CCM Nomination for Kinondoni Parliamentary Seat.

Image
Muslim Hassanali, who previously contested for the Ilala constituency parliamentary seat in 2015 under the opposition party CHADEMA, has resurfaced in the political arena—this time collecting a nomination form to run for Member of Parliament in Kinondoni under the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Hassanali, who later officially joined CCM, now joins a growing list of party members who have declared their intentions and collected nomination forms to seek the party’s endorsement ahead of the upcoming general elections. The process of collecting and returning nomination forms within CCM officially began on June 28, 2025, and is expected to conclude by July 2, 2025. Hassanali’s move signals a potentially competitive race within the party as aspirants vie for various leadership positions.
Read more

EAC Countries Unite to Boost Cross-Border Agroecological Trade: Seven Key Resolutions Adopted in Jinja Conference

Image
By Our Reporter Participants of the Regional Conference on Enhancing Cross-Border Trade in Agroecological Produce within the East African Community (EAC) have issued seven resolutions aimed at boosting this crucial sector for the economies of member states. The week-long conference, held in Jinja, Uganda, brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, farmers, researchers, and journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC. Reading the conference resolutions, the General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Dr. Million Belay, said that about 100 people met and discussed ways to collaborate and advance the vision of agroecological trade within the EAC. “We agreed that every stakeholder should fulfill their responsibilities to ensure accelerated regional economic growth through agroecology. We are calling on governments and all stakeholders to fully implement commitments to eliminate non-tariff ba...
Read more

*Government Launches 15274 Hotline to Ease Access to National ID Information

Image
Dar es Salaam: The Government has urged citizens to use their mobile phones by dialing *15274 to easily access information related to National Identification Cards (NIDA). Speaking today, December 29, 2025, the Minister for Home Affairs, George Simbachawene, said the service will enable citizens to check the status of their National ID cards, including whether the card has been produced or not, with feedback provided within five days. He explained that through this number, citizens will receive important information regarding their National IDs, adding that damaged ID cards are expected to be replaced starting February 2026. “By using this number, you will be able to get information on whether your ID card has been produced. I emphasize that damaged ID cards will be issued in February 2026,” said Minister Simbachawene. The Minister further noted that the Government has put in place a strategy to introduce the use of a single identification card for accessing various government services...
Read more