Welcome back! We just wrapped up a trip to Pretoria for what I’m calling my favourite removal of all time (or at least, the best one I can remember!).

We headed out expecting a double-header of fountain removals, but it turned out to be one solid hive tucked inside a massive, hollow fiberglass rock. If you’ve been following the Bee Sanctuary, you know these “fake rocks” are a classic hideout for Johannesburg swarms, but this one was special.

Why This One Topped the List

Beekeeping isn’t always easy—usually, it involves stripped screws, tight spaces, and a lot of sweat. But this rescue was a dream:

• The “Clean” Break: We tipped the rock over, and the comb was attached perfectly to the inside. It came away from the fiberglass with almost no mess.
• Chilled Bees: Even though it was boiling hot and we were sweating in our suits, the bees were incredibly calm. They stayed together in a cluster and didn’t try to sting us once.
• Quick Efficiency: We managed to save about five and a half pieces of healthy comb, rubber-banding them into frames to give the colony their own resources in the new box.

The Sunset Wait

We didn’t want to leave any family members behind. After vacuuming the main cluster, we waited for dark so the foragers could return from the field. By the time we packed up for the Kyalami Apiary, the rock was completely empty. We’re getting back much earlier than usual tonight—a rare treat in the world of bee removals!

Join the Journey

We are moving fast toward our 3 to 300 goal, and it’s rescues like this that keep the momentum going.

Want to see the “horror movie” struggles Ethan mentions? He’s threatening to keep the footage of me struggling with the equipment in the final edit, so keep an eye out for those bloopers!

---

Help us grow!

If you enjoyed this “easy win,” please Subscribe, hit the notification bell, and follow our progress on Facebook and Instagram. Every bit of support helps us save more bees across Gauteng.

Beekeeper’s Question: What’s the easiest or most “perfect” removal you’ve ever done? Was it a bird box, a rock, or something even simpler? Let’s hear your stories in the comments!

How should we proceed? Would you like to see a detailed breakdown of how we rubber-band comb into frames, or should we jump straight to the next big wall removal?