Getting Out of the Rut — Literally and Figuratively

Most people think beekeeping in Uganda, Africa is just about tending to hives and harvesting honey. But when your work takes you deep into forests, across muddy fields, or through washed-out mountain paths, handling bees is the easy part. The real test is getting to the farmers — the ones who depend on your support, training, and encouragement.

Having spent years as a beekeeper in Africa, I’ve seen firsthand how remote these communities can be. In Uganda and Rwanda, the farmers I worked with often lived hours away from the nearest paved road. There were no signs, no shortcuts — just instinct, resilience, and a willingness to push through.

And if the farmers live near nature reserves, the journey gets even more intense. I’ve had to be cautious about encounters with elephants crossing the tracks, and yes — even lions. Out there, you're not just navigating terrain. You're navigating the wild.

Whether it was crossing rivers with buckets of honey or hiking into the highlands to check on hives, I learned to adapt. But even with all that experience, I knew I needed to sharpen my skills.

That’s why you’ll see me in the video undergoing a terrain driving course, the same kind used to train United Nations field drivers. This isn’t ordinary driving — it’s about:

Navigating through deep ruts, rocky slopes, and unpredictable trails

Recovering vehicles stuck in mud or sand

Making quick, strategic decisions under tough conditions

This training gave me more than just technical know-how. It gave me the confidence to reach the unreachable — the farmers living in the margins, raising bees under harsh conditions, doing their best with what little they have.

Beekeeping in Africa taught me that success isn’t just about honey. It’s about showing up — even when the terrain is wild, muddy, or lion-patrolled. It's about walking (or driving) the extra mile to empower others.

Now, whether it's a jungle trail in Asia or a dirt track in Africa, I know how to get there.Because sometimes, the most important part of the journey… is just getting out of the rut.

To many, it’s just a matter of a day’s work. To me, it’s life and death.

#beekeepinglife #africanstories #fieldwork #resilience #sustainablefarming #terraintraining #ruraldevelopment #honeyharvest #wildlifeencounters #purposeovercomfort