About
Simply Bee is a family-run beekeeping and natural skincare business rooted in the West Coast of the Western Cape, where bees, people, and nature have lived in balance for generations.
Our story began nearly a century ago.
In 1926, beekeeping became part of our family’s way of life. This knowledge was passed down to the next generation in 1954, and in 2008, Helena van der Westhuizen and her husband Pierre took over the family’s beekeeping legacy, not as a business at first, but as a responsibility to the bees and the land.
In 2011, Simply Bee was officially founded, with a clear purpose:
to protect bees, educate people, and create honest products that reflect the land they come from.
Beekeeping in the Cape Fynbos
Our bees are Cape Capensis honey bees, indigenous to the Western Cape and uniquely adapted to the Cape Fynbos biome, one of the most biodiverse floral regions in the world.
With over 600 flowering plant species, Fynbos produces honey that is never uniform. Each harvest is different in colour, aroma, and flavour, just as nature intended. This variability is not a flaw; it is the signature of real, raw, place-based honey.
From Hive to Skin
We use the natural gifts of the hive, honey, beeswax, and propolis, to create gentle, effective natural skincare and cosmetic products. Every formulation is developed with respect for both skin and nature, avoiding harsh chemicals and unnecessary additives.
Our products are made to nourish, protect, and reconnect people with nature through daily rituals of care.
Education & Conservation
We believe knowledge creates care. That’s why education is at the heart of Simply Bee.
Through our Bee Observation Centre, school visits, talks, and community outreach, we teach children and adults:
- why bees matter
- how pollination sustains life
- how responsible beekeeping protects biodiversity
Our message is simple and urgent:
without bees, we have no future.
More Than a Brand
Based in Hopefield, the oldest town in the Western Cape, Simply Bee has grown into:
- a honey & product shop
- an educational and community space
Simply Bee is not just about what we sell, it’s about what we stand for:
heritage, honesty, education, and the quiet power of bees.
