A greater honeyguide bird perched on a tree

Amana Kilawi attending a honey-hunt in southern Tanzania

1/7 The greater honeyguide (Indicator indicator) leads humans to bees’ nests. People harvest the honey, and the bird eats leftover wax. While this partnership is well-studied in other parts of eastern Africa, it hasn’t been explored in southern Tanzania, where beekeeping is big business. #BOU2026

Screengrab of the published paper in Proc B and logos of the Cultural Evolution Society Transformation Fund, University of Eswatini, University of Cape Town and the Honey-hunting Research Network

Honey-hunting with honeyguides in Eswatini is a sweet thrill 🍯✨: a recreational tradition showing this mutualism persists without strong economic incentives.
Thanks to co-authors Gcina Dlamini, Dr Celiwe Ngcamphalala, and Dr Jessica van der Wal, and to @cultevolfunding.bsky.social for funding
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A honey-hunting group, joined by Sanele Nhlabatsi and Celiwe Ngcamphalala, showing off their harvest before enjoying it together.

This is the first study of human–honeyguide cooperation in the Kingdom of Eswatini, based on interviews with 83 honey-hunters and beekeepers, and observations of a honey-hunt. Our findings are published in Nhlabatsi et al. (2025) Royal Society Publishing
Read here: doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

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Co-author and honey-hunter Gcina Dlamini showing his nephew how to harvest from a honeybees’ nest

While challenges exist, including declining honeybee and honeyguide populations, and reduced youth participation, most people believe the practice will continue, sustained by its social and cultural significance, and the enduring trust between humans and their wild guides.
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A hollowed Capparis fruit with two holes, used to whistle on to attract honeyguides

A deodorant roll-on ball used to whistle on to attract honeyguides

Swati honey-hunters use various acoustic signals to attract honeyguides, including whistles, axe strikes, and whistling on seed pods or hollow stems. Some now whistle on plastic items like deodorant roll-on balls, showing how this long-standing practice continues to evolve.
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The core steps involved in a honeyguide-assisted honey-hunt in Eswatini. (A) Step 1: Initiating cooperation; (B) Step 2: Coordination to a bees’ nest; (C) Step 3: Honey-hunter harvests bees’ nest; (D) Step 4: Honeyguide benefits from the harvest. Illustration by Carissa Gagashi. From: Nhlabatsi et al. 2025 Proc. B.

Swati honey-hunters and honeyguides cooperate in a consistent sequence: respondents actively signal to the birds, the honeyguides lead them to bees’ nests while maintaining reciprocal communication, the nests are harvested using smoke, and the birds feed on the remaining wax.
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Young boys herding cattle in Eswatini. Image by Bheki Ngcamphalala

Honey-hunting in Eswatini is a widespread, recreational activity, especially among young cattle herders looking for a sweet treat to eat and to share. Unlike in some regions where honey-hunting is a key livelihood, in Eswatini the practice is largely recreational.
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The greater honeyguide bird on a honeycomb on a tree stump. Photo by Nigel Dennis

A Swati honey-hunter whistling on a hollow fruit to recruit a greater honeyguide. Photo by Jessica van der Wal

In parts of Africa, greater honeyguide birds guide people to bees’ nests. Honey for the people; in return, wax and brood for the bird: a perfect win-win.
This 🧵 explores a remarkable, culturally sustained partnership between people of Eswatini and a wild bird. #BOU2026 #ornithology
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