Traditional vs Modern Beehives Types, Pictures, Diagrams & Costs
- BeyondForest
- Dec 3, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 23
bee colonize traditional hive faster than langstroth
Stacked longstroth beehive and logs labeled "LE114" by Kirimiri BeeKeepers
A traditional beehive is a low-cost, locally made home for honeybees built from natural materials such as hollowed logs, woven grass or cane, clay pots, or strips of bark. Designs vary by region log and bark hives are common in Africa, skeps (straw baskets) in Europe, and clay vessels around the Mediterranean and Sahel. These hives are typically fixed-comb bees attach comb directly to the walls instead of removable frames.
Image of a Beekeeper with smoker at Segera Conservancy
In traditional beekeeping we categorize bees according to how they draw the combs.
According to traditional beekeepers the 'closing' type produces the most honey
Image post by Kirimiri BeeKeepers ducating their readers about Traditional Beehives
1. Those draw combs straight from end to end (ndambarari) - meaning 'stretching'
2. Those draw combs slanting in the sides (pictured) - mbaru cia mbogo - meaning 'ribs of a Buffalo'
3. Those draw combs in the shape of the side covers - nvinga meaning 'closing'
Image of 13 Traditional beehives on top of a baobab tree by David Musyoka.
Beekeeping is one of the oldest forms of agriculture, with evidence suggesting that humans have been harvesting honey for at least 10,000 years. Early civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, utilized various forms of traditional beehives to cultivate bees and extract honey, wax, and other bee products.
Image screenshot of a kithingo which is a mixture of propolis, ocimum plants, old combs, other trees and He goat fats. by Kirimiri bee keepers
Hives are hung in trees or placed on stands to reduce moisture, deter ants and honey badgers, and keep bees cooler in hot climates. Beekeepers often bait them with melted beeswax or propolis and position them near flowering trees or water sources to encourage colonization.
Bees attach combs directly to the walls of the hive, unlike in movable-frame hives.
Image of Traditional beehive by Kirimiri Forest beekeepers
Mimics the environment bees prefer, encouraging colony establishment.
Traditional hives excel for community livelihoods: they’re cheap to build, durable, and use renewable materials. They preserve culturally important practices, require minimal tools, and can be managed with simple smoking and careful cutting of comb. However, the lack of movable frames limits inspection for pests and disease, makes selective harvesting harder, and can result in brood loss or lower honey quality if comb is crushed.
How to calm africanized bees
Traditionally beekeepers have been communicating with the bees and calming them, by mixing some honey, maize jam and old He goat fats, as they give them, the "say" some words to calm the bees, it has worked perfectly also
Common beehive types include Langstroth, Top-Bar (Kenyan TBH), Warre, Flow, and traditional log/bark or skeps. Langstroth uses stacked boxes with removable frames, enabling high yields, inspections, and migratory beekeeping.
Choice depends on climate, forage, budget, mobility needs, and management style.
Top-Bar hives hold bars across a horizontal trough; bees build natural comb, harvesting is simple, and equipment costs are low. Warre hives mimic tree cavities with smaller boxes added below, reducing disturbance.Traditional hives are cheapest and durable but fixed-comb limits disease control.
Image of Parts of a Beehive by Galena Farms
The Langstroth hive is a modular, stackable beehive built around “bee space” (about 6–9 mm). This precise gap lets bees move freely without gluing everything shut, so each frame lifts out cleanly for inspection and honey harvest. A standard setup includes a stand, bottom board, one or two deep brood boxes for the queen to lay eggs, medium or shallow supers for surplus honey, an inner cover, outer (telescoping) cover, and optional queen excluder. Frames may use wax or plastic foundation, or be run foundationless for natural comb.
This is how the Langstroth hive works . In early season, bees expand the brood nest in the deep boxes. As nectar flows, you add supers; when 7–8 of 10 frames are drawn and 60–70% full, add another super to prevent crowding and swarming. Honey is harvested by uncapping and spinning frames in an extractor, returning drawn comb to the hive to boost future yields.
Why beekeepers choose Langstroth Beehive
High productivity
Easy to add space, reuse drawn comb, and scale colonies.
Full inspections
Movable frames support disease/pest checks and targeted feeding.
Standardized gear
Widely available parts, tools, nucs, and training.
Benefits of Traditional Beehives
Image of a Beekeeper in white suit and veil brushes honeycomb by Kirirmiri Bee Keepers
Low-Cost Entry:
Traditional beehives require minimal financial investment, making them accessible to low-income communities.
Sustainability:
Materials used are natural and biodegradable, reducing environmental impact.
Encourages Biodiversity:
Traditional hives often foster wild bee species that are adapted to local environments.
Cultural Preservation:
Supports the continuation of indigenous knowledge and practices.
Minimal Management Requirements:
Requires less time and expertise compared to modern beekeeping methods.
Improved Pollination:
Encourages natural pollination, benefiting local crops and ecosystems.
Traditional bee hives by Kimiri Forest Honey
1. Made from Hardwood Trees that guarantee you 50 + Years of harvesting
2. Traditional Hives help Separate brood and the honey
3. Easy to Colonize
4. Adapted to all Climate it has thick walls which makes bees able to regulate temperatures
Traditional Bee hives produce 5–10 kg while Modern (KTBH/Langstroth) produce 10–20 kg with strong flows/management Langstroth can reach 20–40 kg .
Image of a post on Traditional beehives by Peter Maina Machira
Predators
Traditional hives may offer limited protection against predators like bears, skunks, or other wildlife.
Climate Extremes
Without modern insulation materials, traditional hives can struggle in extreme temperatures.
Disease and Pests
Limited access to treatments makes managing bee diseases and pests more challenging.
Honey Harvesting Limitations
Methods may yield less honey compared to modern extraction techniques.
Image of Bees swarm around a large honeycomb inside a hollow tree trunk by Kirimiri Forest Bee Keepers
What are the different types of bee hives in Kenya?
Kenyan beekeepers mainly use Traditional hives (log, bark, or clay): cheapest, fixed comb, limited inspections. The Kenyan Top-Bar (KTBH) horizontal, movable comb on bars, low-cost gear, easy harvesting and Langstroth which are vertical boxes with frames; best for inspections, disease control, and higher yields.
What is modern beekeeping in Kenya and how is it done?
Modern beekeeping uses movable-comb hives (KTBH or Langstroth), good apiary siting (light shade, water, windbreaks, ant/rat/honey-badger protection), and regular inspections (7–14 days). Start with a nuc or baited hive, ensure the colony is queen-right, add space (bars/supers) before congestion, control pests (ants, wax moth, varroa) with good hygiene, feed during dearths, and harvest only well-capped comb to keep moisture low.
Do you have a modern method of beekeeping PDF?
Yes. We provide a concise “Modern Beekeeping in Kenya” PDF covering hive choice, apiary setup, colony installation, seasonal management, pest control, and hygienic harvesting. If you want a copy, Download PDF here
Where can I see pictures of traditional and modern hives?
See the images above: a labeled Langstroth diagram, a Kenya Top-Bar (KTBH) sketch, and traditional log hives.
Image of a Kenya Top-Bar (KTBH) sketch
A clear Langstroth parts diagram (outer cover, inner cover, supers, queen excluder, brood box, bottom board, entrance reducer) is here
Langstroth hive vs KTBH: which is better in Kenya?
Langstroth have higher production, easy inspections/disease control, strong occupancy; needs more gear and lifting while KTBH have Low cost, simple tools, natural comb; lighter work but smaller peak yields and trickier inspections.
How many hives per acre and typical yield per hive?
20–25 hives per apiary site is commonly advised; if you want more, establish another site ~3 km away to avoid overgrazing nectar.
How much does a modern beehive cost in Kenya?
Current retail for bee bare hives KTBH cost 5,000–6,000 while Langstroth cost KSh 5,000–7,000 while traditional bee hives cost 3000Ksh-5000Ksh depending on size
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