1 Agincourt Street, Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK Tel +44 (0)1600 714848

info@beesfordevelopment.org www.beesfordevelopment.org

Bees for Development Trust UK Charity 1078803

Trust Patrons: Monty Don, Baroness Anita Gale, Martha Kearney

Professor Tom Seeley, Sting (Gordon Sumner), Bill Turnbull

Registered Office: 1 Agincourt Street Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK

Bees for Development Trust is the working title of The Troy Trust

BEEKEEPERS’ SAFARI TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Monday 11th – Thursday 21st February 2019

You are warmly invited to join this special Safari1 hosted by

Bees for Development Trustee Gladstone Solomon. In the

Caribbean, Gladstone is held in high regard as a beekeeper,

having been President of both the Tobago Apicultural Society,

and of the Caribbean Regional Association of Caribbean

Beekeepers’ Organizations (ACBO). Gladstone’s speciality is

a programme that caters for all. His flexible approach ensures

you will not miss any of the sights, treasures or current

events. This Safari has taken place since 2000.

The Islands of Trinidad and Tobago

“You’d be hard pressed to find a Caribbean location that offers such a variety of wildlife and

habitats in so compact an area. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the richest destinations in the region

for ecotourism”. (Source: The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago)

Trinidad lies northeast of Venezuela. On the north and east coasts are beautiful beaches. Along

the north of the island is the Northern Range of mountains looming over the capital, Port of Spain.

Tobago is 30 km away and is very different from Trinidad. Tobago offers a quieter way of life,

white sandy beaches, crystal-clear seas and rainforest.

“Great to have so much contact with Tobagonians, and Trinidadians to a lesser extent, a rare

privilege of your safari holidays”. (Source: previous Safari feedback form)

Local beekeeping

The islands are in a unique position – Africanised honey bees reached the apiaries in Trinidad in

1979, whereas beekeeping in Tobago is with European races of honey bees. Bee flora includes

tropical fruit trees, forest and ornamental trees, and a wide array of herbaceous species and shrubs.

You will have opportunities to see beekeeping with honey bees and stingless bees.

“Stingless bee honey is wonderful even if only a drop or two can be taken” (Source: previous Safari

feedback form)

1 Bees for Development named our Beekeeping adventures Bee Safaris, because Safari is

the Swahili name for a journey, and we organised our first Bee Safari in Swahili- speaking

Tanzania, long ago in 1996.

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ITINERARY

Day 1

Mon

11 Feb

Arrival in Tobago.

Gladstone will welcome you on arrival at Tobago’s ANR Robinson

International Airport, take you to the host hotel and ensure that you

are comfortably checked-in and settled.

Dinner at Crown Point Beach Hotel

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

Day 2

Tue

12 Feb

Fort, Flora and Flowers.

Visit to the Tobago Museum at Fort King George in the island’s

capital, Scarborough, and a tour of the Fort itself.

Lunch at the Blue Crab Restaurant before visiting Richardson’s

Home Garden Centre at Orange Hill to view their fine collection of

ornamental plants.

A cross island drive to the village of Plymouth, on the Caribbean

coast. Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve on the outskirts of

Plymouth. This organic farm has a freshwater fish pond and a bird

observation centre, providing the best location to see a range of

humming bird species.

For dinner you can further explore the cuisine at the Crown Point

Beach Hotel or one of the nearby restaurants2.

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

Day 3

Wed

13 Feb

Get suited up! Come and meet our European bees.

Today we meet three long-standing beekeepers. Our first visit is to

Francis Forbes’s apiary and extracting facility at Mt Pleasant,

followed by a visit to Murchison Figari’s apiary at Hampden where

we are likely to see beeswax foundation milling in process. After

lunch we visit the apiary and extracting facility of Edson George, the

beekeeper with the largest number of colonies on the island.

Dinner at Crown Point or one of the nearby restaurants

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

2 There are half a dozen restaurants within walking distance (200-400m) of Crown Point

Beach Hotel. On the return leg of the first day's tour, we will stop at all the restaurants to

have a look at the menus. You can then decide where you want to have dinner on which

night (including of course Crown Point). Your Safari tour price covers up to the

equivalent cost at the host hotel and you will need to meet any additional costs. You will

not be accompanied to dinner at alternative restaurants and will make your own way -

usually walking as a group, or a taxi is always an option.

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Day 4

Thu

14 Feb

Happy Valentine’s day!

Today we visit Gladstone’s apiaries at Wilson Road on the outskirts

of Scarborough, and at Mount St George, as well as his home and

extracting facility. Gladstone keeps European honey bees in

Langstroth and top-bar hives. He keeps also indigenous stingless

bees. Sharon will show you her handmade soaps, lotions and

creams while we enjoy a take-out lunch from the village restaurant.

A non-beekeeping visit to Welsh-born beekeeper Nigel Pawan

precedes our return to base.

Dinner at Crown Point or one of the nearby restaurants

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

Day 5

Fri

15 Feb

Island Tour, a grand day out

We will explore some of Tobago’s beautiful villages, breath-taking

vistas and bathing beaches as we tour the island. We drive along

Tobago’s scenic Atlantic coast with impromptu stops along the way

en route to Jemma’s Tree Top Restaurant at Speyside for a

sumptuous lunch. Continuing along the Windward coast we get to

picturesque Charlottesville. The return route is via the Caribbean

coast where the vistas are even more awe-inspiring. The rural

villages of Hermitage, Lanse Formi and Parlatuvier present elements

of Tobago’s rustic past, while Parlatuvier and Englishman’s Bays are

unmatched for their idyllic beauty. After Castara Bay, the journey

continues inland through the villages of Runnymede, Moriah and

Mason Hall, then on to our Crown Point Beach Hotel.

Dinner at Crown Point or one of the nearby restaurants

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

Day 6

Sat

16 Feb

Beekeepers Offshore!

The Safari boards a glass bottom boat at Buccoo Village and sails to

the world-renowned Buccoo Reef where we will have an

opportunity to snorkel. En route, we view a variety of coral

formations, saltwater flora and fauna species at the Underwater

Gardens. Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit with a dip in the

Nylon Pool, an offshore sandbar with ‘nylon’ water that reputedly

has special properties, before returning to Buccoo Village. Back to

base after lunch.

Dinner at Crown Point or one of the nearby restaurants

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

Day 7

Sun

17 Feb

A well-deserved day off!

Is there anything off the itinerary you would like to do, for example

visit the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, do some more beekeeping, or

have a day on the beach? There are many options: Gladstone will

help you decide.

Dinner at Crown Point Beach Hotel or one of the nearby restaurants.

Crown

Point

Beach

Hotel

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Day 8

Mon

18 Feb

Changing base, we journey to Trinidad!

The Safari moves to Trinidad on a morning flight. On arrival we

head for Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC), a world-class natural

history destination for students of tropical ecology. AWNC is

centrally located in Trinidad’s dominant northern range. We should

get there in time for you to participate in an optional guided walk

with a professional naturalist guide or to just relax at the Centre

while observing the birds - including lots of hummers and parrots.

After a light lunch we depart for Pax Guest House, built in 1916 on

the grounds of Mount St Benedict on the foot hills of the Northern

Range. Pax overlooks the low lying Caroni plains of central

Trinidad. Dinner at Pax Guest House.

Pax Guest

House

Day 9

Tue

19 Feb

Africanised beekeeping

We travel to the north-east of Trinidad, the island’s main beekeeping

area, to visit two beekeepers for an encounter with Africanised bees.

At Sangre Grande we visit one of the many apiaries of brothers

Ricardo and Emmanuel D’Andrade, and the extracting facility of

commercial beekeepers Seeram and Norma Seenath. Both

operations are amongst the largest beekeeping concerns in Trinidad.

After lunch at Homes Restaurant in Sangre Grande, we head to the

Caroni Bird Sanctuary on Trinidad’s west coast for a river boat trip

to see the brightly coloured Scarlet Ibis (one of the national birds)

and the Egret as they fly in to roost. Dinner at Pax Guest House.

Pax Guest

House

Day

10

Wed

20 Feb

South Trinidad

Chunilal Roopnarine, President of the Association of Professional

Beekeepers, and a team of southern beekeepers are our hosts as we

visit Chatham in south-west Trinidad, the island’s second largest

beekeeping area. A package inclusive of an apiary visit, a

sumptuous meal, bee products display, and an open group

discussion will be on offer. Our southern beekeepers, renowned for

their hospitality, will not disappoint! Dinner at Pax Guest House.

Pax Guest

House

Day

11

Thu

21 Feb

Our final Safari morning

Explore the environs at Pax or just relax with the ‘hummers’ on Pax tea room

balcony before we make our way to the airport for your return flights from either Trinidad or Tobago - unless of course you have decided to extend your stay; if time allows, we will stop for lunch at Trincity Mall.

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In addition, we hope to offer elements of the country’s Carnival celebrations - an optional

evening visit to a steel band, in both Trinidad and Tobago, and/or attending at a steel band

competition. You may be asked to contribute to any entrance or related fee associated

with these events.

Price The price of this Beekeepers’ Safari is £1,965 per person (single supplement £75)

Due to the special nature of our Beekeepers’ Safaris we cannot guarantee the departure of

every holiday, although we try hard to ensure that all take place. The Safari price is costed

on a group size of eight. To prevent disappointment, we do operate Safaris with smaller

numbers but reserve the right to either apply a small group surcharge of 5-10%, or with

participants’ consent, to make alterations to the itinerary. If this happened, we would

advise you as soon as possible. Please do not book any flights until we confirm the

Safari will go ahead. The Safari is priced to ensure we do not have to increase the cost due

to negative changes in foreign exchange rates in the current economic climate. If rates

were to change significantly favourably we would endeavour to offer an appropriate

rebate.

The price includes ✓ High quality hotel accommodation (single supplement £75)

✓ Breakfast, lunch (opportunity to sample local foods), à la carte dinner every day

✓ All local travel including flights between Trinidad and Tobago

✓ Activities listed in the itinerary (possible additional costs for social events)

✓ Accompanied by Gladstone Solomon

Not included International travel to Tobago and back

Personal Insurance (travel and medical)

Passport and visa costs

Alcoholic drinks, tips and gratuities

How to get there https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/destinations/trinidad-and-tobago

https://www.virginatlantic.com

For more information https://wikitravel.org/en/Trinidad_and_Tobago

http://www.tourism.gov.tt/

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FAQs

What vaccinations will I require? Comprehensive advice, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/trinidad-

and-tobago

Will I need a visa? British nationals do not require a visa to visit Trinidad and Tobago. Your passport should

be valid for a minimum period of 6 months.

What about money? The currency is the dollar (abbreviated to TT$)

What will the weather be like? The February weather should be mild and pleasant (mid-20ºCs) and mostly sunny.

What clothes should I bring? Swimsuits are recommended! Sun hats and sun screen are important.

What about beekeeping clothing? Gladstone will endeavour to provide beekeeping suits to everyone who wants to

participate in the beekeeping aspect of the Safari. However it can be a challenge to have

suits to fit everyone - so please do bring a bee suit, jacket or veil if you can - though it

should be new to avoid any possibility of disease transmission - indeed local law prohibits

entry of used beekeeping apparel. You will not need to bring wellington boots - just a

sturdy pair of sneakers or trainers and protection for your ankles.

Telephone and Wi-Fi There are two major service providers, one is state owned the other is Digicel. There is

good coverage on both islands and keen competition amongst the networks. Internet

speed is up to par 3G & 4G. With an unlocked phone you can buy and install a local SIM

card to cover your stay; there is a range of plans available. Both Crown Point Beach Hotel

and Pax Guest House offer free internet access.

What to do next? Complete the booking form and return it to us with your deposit. We encourage you to

send your booking(s) as soon as possible, so that we quickly attain the minimum number

of participants necessary for the Safari to take place, and to ensure accommodation at our

favoured hotels. We are ready to assist you with any enquiries that you have, and we very

much look forward to hearing from you.

Francine Sagar, BfD Safari Coordinator

Bees for Development 1 Agincourt Street, Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK

Tel +44 (0)1600 714 848 safari@beesfordevelopment.org

www.beesfordevelopment.org