Stingless Bee - Research and Ecotourism

The International Stingless Bee Centre operates in cooperation with the University of Cape Coast, and is a research, training and tourist center on stingless bees (Melaponini). It is a tourist attraction adjacent to the entrance of Kakum National Park.

Project Details

Near the entrance of the Kakum National Park is the International Stingless Bee Centre, a research, education and visitor center about stingless bees (Melaponini).

Within the immediate vicinity of the rain forest, the Center keeps four species of Meliponini and educates local bee keepers, tourists, school groups and others interested about the specifics, lifestyle and the use of stingless bees by man.

Students of biology, social geography, (eco)–Tourism, regional development, marketing and (amateur) beekeepers can participate in the research, training of local beekeepers and making the center more attractive for tourists.

The stingless bees do not live together with other bee species; Stingless bees are at the same time the largest and the smallest among the 370 species of bees existing. Stingless bees are only found in tropical and subtropical regions. The species raised in the Stingless Bee Centre are Dactylurina, Meliponula buchandii, Hypotrigona and Meliponula ferriginia.

The bees provide three products: honey, pollen and propolis. The honey of stingless bees is considered to be of higher nutritional value than the honey of bees with stings, as in the absence of a sting, these bees developed more powerful jaws and can therefore metabolise a higher amount of herbal material. This claim however, is not scientifically proven. Propolis is resin with which bee hives are sealed. It has antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties. The center trains the rural population in the Kakum area environmentally friendly means to earn an income by raising stingless bees, and in the production and sales of the products.

Interns and volunteers from relevant disciplines can support bee research by studying the behavior of stingless bees and their importance to the people and nature; offer courses and pedagogical approaches for education work in the communities and amongst bee keepers. The center emphasizes intensive exchange of knowledge and is open to new ideas.

The center was founded in 2005, by entomologist Prof. Peter Kwapong, who teaches at the Department of Entomology and Wildlife in the University of Cape Coast. It is possible for students of biology to do research and thesis with him (See "Academix- Theses abroad”. For his research at the International Stingless Bee Centre, Pro. Kwaping was awarded the British Council Award for the Most Effective Ambassador of UK Education and the Cape Coast Award for Innovation and Creativity.

The center showcases several natural and man-made beehives for the benefit of visitors. In addition, there is a forest tour, where they are shown the native plants whose continued existence depends on bee pollination. In a small shop, the products of bees, as well as literature about them are sold.

A focal point for students of tourism development or marketing/business, would be to increase awareness of the center among tourists and locals, improve visitor experience and promote the sale of bee products.

Info Box

Location: Kakum, Ghana
Availability: All year, Start date flexible
Minimum Duration: 1 Week
Maximum Duration: 12 Months
Language Requirements: English
Accommodation:
Host family in Kakum

Supervision Possible: Yes
Qualification Of Supervisor: Biologist, Professor of Entomology
Minimum Qualification Of Intern: None
Further Contribution To Project: None

Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: Relevant technical knowledge
Further Contribution To Project: None
Expectations:
Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude?

Accommodation

Accommodation in Kakum

Host Family:

In walking distance to the visitor center and entrance of Kakum National Park, there is a settlement with houses for the employees of the National Park. There you have a single room in the house of a family (two people can share the too if possible). The elders in the family work in the administration of the National Park.

Rate

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

		up to 31 Days	32-60 Days	61-90 Days	91-120 Days	5 Months or longer
	1 Person	450 EUR	600 EUR	700 EUR	750 EUR	850 EUR
	2-4 Persons (Rate per Person)	400 EUR	500 EUR	600 EUR	650 EUR	700 EUR

Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
Preparation Session via Skype, together with further participants
Arrangements of the Documents you need for your Visa Application and (if needed) assistance with extension of the visa in Ghana, but not the official government fees for it (See costs below)
Pick-up and Transfers from/to Accra (ACC) on arrival and departure
Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
Orientation and Introduction in Cape Coast
Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
24 Hours emergency support by local support team
50 USD Contribution to your project
Local SIM Card with 10 USD air time
Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university

The Rates do NOT include:

Accommodation and Meals (see below)
Travel to/from Ghana (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
Official fees for Visa (see below)
Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
Personal Expenses
Vaccinations
Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.

II. Accommodation Costs

You can choose between the following options:

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.

Rates in US-Dollar! Convert Currency		Short-time stay (1-31 Days)	Long-time stay (32-365 Days) (You pay proportionally per day)
Host Family
Host Family of Middle Standard on Full Board	1 Person (Single Room)	10 USD/Day	250 USD/Month
Host Family of Middle Standard on Full Board	2 Persons p.p. (Double/Twin Room)	10 USD/Day	250 USD/Month

For incomplete months you will pay the exact amount proportionally per day.
In case of 3-4 person: Same rate as in case of 2 Persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.

Overview of other costs:

Visa typically 100 EUR/110 USD for 30 days, which can be extended locally for around 10 EUR/13 USD per extra month (Visa needs to be applied for prior to your trip)
If meals are not included: around 80-140 USD/Month for self-catering (eating out at affordable yet good restaurants and/or cooking by yourself; you are much more flexible in this way compared to if we would serve food at your accommodation)
Small local expenses (e.g. Internet, local transport): around 30-50 USD/Month (Estimate)
Insurances around 30-50 USD/Month

How do I pay?

Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.

The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.

Extras

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.

Travel Health Insurance

We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.

Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.

Cape Coast

Cape Coast is a city of about 170,000 inhabitants, on the coast south of Ghana. It is relatively easy to find your way through the city and public transport is cheap and good; this makes the city an attractive location for volunteering and internships. There are tropical beaches and locations for excursions, such as Kakum National Park. Cape Coast has a humid-tropical climate with nearly identical temperatures all year around, of about 30 degrees. May and June see the rainy season.

Our coordinators in Cape Coast

Our coordinators in Cape Coast are Sampson and Paschal, who collaborate with other team employees.

FAQs

Häufig gestellte Fragen (FAQs)

Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?

No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the Accra airport at any time. In some projects, it is better to start at a specific time (e.g. beginning of the academic year in schools). This will be mentioned along with the project details.

Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?

Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.

During my stay, can I travel around the country?

Of course, you can do this - most of our participants do so. However, when the travel destination is too far away (especially the norther region), it may not be possible over a weekend; these, we would recommend you keep for before the projects begins or after the completion, or during holidays.

Is it safe to travel in Ghana alone as a single female traveller?

Ghana is one of the safest countries in the African continent and women here enjoy great respect and are free to move anywhere. As long as you keep in mind certain safety rules that are applicable to almost any location, it is absolutely safe to travel around in Ghana as a single female traveller.

Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Ghana?

Ghana is a popular country for volunteering and internships. In Cape Coast and other places, there are other foreign volunteers and interns, with whom you can easily get in touch.

The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants at the location, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so.

What vaccinations do I need?

Our Info - PDF that you get as a participant, gives detailed information on health care. Recommended Vaccinations

Where will I live?

It is your choice, whether you want simple dormitory living or an apartment with other participants, with a host family or in a hotel room (only for certain projects). There are various categories like Adventurer, Most popular! and Comfort+ available.

The houses and apartments are located in safe and relatively upscale neighbourhoods, and are either fenced or guarded by a security guard. You can either share a room with other participants or stay alone. The host families are carefully selected and most have years of experience with hosting Western participants. They integrate you into the family and look forward to introducing you to the Ghanaian cuisine and language; but you can also have your space.

We can alternatively, offer you a room in a centrally located hotel in Cape Coast, for which we have negotiated a good price.

How free or bound am I in my accommodation with the host family?

Ghanaian families are very caring and interested in you and treat you like family. They will integrate you into their family and usually invite you to parties, excursions and church programs and ensure that you are always safe. However, it is perfectly fine if you choose to have your privacy. The families, in most cases, have a lot of experience with interns/volunteers and know that you will need privacy. However, it is expected that you give them prior notice, if you choose to travel and you seek their consent when you invite guests into the house. Due to the religiosity of Ghanaians, it is a taboo to bring home casual acquaintances overnight.

Does my accommodation have internet facilities?

Landline internet connections are common in Ghana. If you have a smartphone, you can buy prepaid credit and convert this into an internet data package. Alternatively, there are USB modem sticks for laptops on which to charge credit. The speed is satisfactory.

How can I do my laundry?

In Ghana, there are very few laundromats. In Cape Coast, you can, for example, bring your laundry to University Hospital, where they are washed in a washing machine, and you can pick them up after 1-3 days. More common, however, is to hire someone to wash your clothes. Everyone knows someone who does this and the women are happy about a little extra income. It is considered stingy when you wash your own laundry by hand and not leave it for someone who needs the money. Normally, you have washerwomen at very affordable prices.

Can I cook in the accommodation ?

In the apartments, housing communities and host families, there are kitchens that you can use. In the host families, meals will usually be cooked for you but, you are allowed to help (especially women, as in Ghana, there are classic gender roles) in the kitchen. In the apartments and shared accommodations, you cook yourself. If you live in a dormitory with other participants (e.g. in an orphanage), there is usually a covered simple outdoor burner that is available to you. In hotel accommodation, there is no possibility of cooking. Details are in the tab "Accommodation".

I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?

Yes, this is possible. The Ghanaian cuisine is very diverse, and even more vegan than vegetarian, because dairy products are among luxury goods and it is very difficult to find milk, cream or cheese. While in Ghana, a lot of fish and meat is eaten, you can order at most restaurants and stalls, vegetarian/vegan diet dishes.

What language skills do I need?

The official language of Ghana is English. Most Ghanaians, at least in urban areas, speak very good English. You should be able to communicate in English.