For more than 23 years, beekeeper and conservationist Gerhard Pieters spent his life immersed in the African bush, working as a Game Ranger and Safari Guide. Surrounded daily by wildlife, untouched landscapes, and the rhythms of nature, his connection to the natural world grew deeply rooted. Yet it was only in 2018, while managing a safari lodge with his wife Priscilla, that an entirely new passion quietly entered their lives.

A close friend suggested placing a beehive at the lodge, and about a year later, a wild colony of African honey bees moved in. That single moment changed everything.

Watching the bees establish themselves inside the hive sparked something profound. For Gerhard, the experience combined his lifelong love for nature with a growing fascination for the remarkable intelligence and resilience of honey bees. What began as curiosity quickly developed into a deep passion for beekeeping, and over time, that passion expanded alongside the growing colonies.

In 2023, Gerhard and Priscilla officially founded Marico River Honey Bee Co. Priscilla recognised something special in the journey that had begun with that first colony years earlier and encouraged Gerhard to pursue beekeeping full-time. With faith, hope, and determination, they stepped into a completely new chapter together.

Their first hives were placed along the banks of the Marico River on private land bordering the renowned Madikwe Game Reserve - a fitting location for a business so deeply connected to conservation and the natural environment. The river itself inspired the company’s name and continues to symbolise the wild, untamed landscapes their bees call home.

Today, Marico River Honey Bee Co manages six apiaries spread throughout the bushveld region surrounding Potchefstroom. Gerhard personally oversees the hives alongside his assistant Amos, while Priscilla manages customer care and the growing business behind the scenes. Their operation has also created employment opportunities for additional staff members, with plans to continue expanding as the business grows.

The environment surrounding their apiaries plays a defining role in the honey their bees produce. Specialising in wildflower honey, the colonies forage predominantly among Acacia thornveld and other indigenous bushveld species such as Buffalo Thorn. These diverse nectar sources produce a naturally high-fructose honey with a smooth, sweet flavour profile and a slower crystallisation process - characteristics that reflect the richness and diversity of the surrounding ecosystem.

For Gerhard, however, beekeeping is about far more than honey production alone.

Coming from a strong conservation background, he believes deeply in allowing bees to function as naturally as possible. His approach to beekeeping avoids harsh interventions and prioritises the long-term health of the colonies over maximum extraction. He does not harvest pollen, royal jelly, or bee venom from his hives, believing those resources belong to the bees themselves. Instead of relying on chemicals to control parasites, he trusts the colonies’ natural instincts and resilience.

This philosophy aligns closely with Southern Gold’s commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and bee conservation. Like Southern Gold, Marico River Honey Bee Co believes that healthy bees are essential not only for producing exceptional honey, but also for protecting biodiversity and supporting the ecosystems around them.

At the heart of their story lies something simple yet powerful: a genuine love for nature and a desire to make a positive difference. From a single wild colony moving into a hive beside a safari lodge to a growing business rooted in conservation, faith, and sustainability, their journey is a reminder of how meaningful things often begin quietly.

Together with passionate beekeepers like Gerhard and Priscilla, Southern Gold continues working toward a future where people, pollinators, and the planet can thrive in harmony - one jar of honey at a time.