Raphia palm is a natural material widely available in Central and West Africa that can be used to produce all type of hives. This document explains step by step how to make two models of topbar hives, one in wood and one in raphia palm. This document has been developed by Beekeeping Network North-South (BNNS) in collaboration with the beekeepers from "Plateforme des Associations des Apiculteurs des Cataractes (PLAAC)"in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).