Healers Hill Nguni Writers Retreat

A 5-day creative residency and wellness experience for writers

Overview

The Healers Hill Nguni Writers Retreat is a sanctuary for writers who need to pause, breathe, and remember why they write.

Set in the quiet hills of rural KwaZulu-Natal, this five-day residential programme is designed to restore inspiration, mindfulness, and creativity among writers. It is built on a simple belief: creativity flourishes in silence, stillness, and nature, and storytelling can be a powerful tool for personal healing and social transformation.

The retreat offers writers something rare in modern life: permission to stop. To walk. To sit. To write only when the words arrive unbidden. To be cared for rather than constantly producing.

Why a Writers Retreat?

Writers carry stories that are not always their own. They sit with ancestors, with trauma, with joy, with hope—and pour all of it onto the page. This is sacred work. But it is also exhausting work.

The Healers Hill retreat was born from a simple observation: writers are tired. They are tired of deadlines, of rejection, of the pressure to produce. They are tired of writing in isolation, unsure if their work matters. They are tired of carrying stories without being held themselves.

At Healers Hill, we ask writers to set down their burdens. To receive rather than give. To remember that before they are writers, they are human beings who deserve rest, care, and connection.

The Retreat Experience

Duration 5 days / 4 nights
Format Residential
Language Primarily isiZulu and English
Group size Maximum 12 participants
Location Healers Hill, rural KwaZulu-Natal

A typical day at Healers Hill includes:

  • Morning meditation or gentle movement – Settling the body so the mind can follow

  • Guided writing sessions – Facilitated by Kwazi Ndlangisa and guest mentors

  • Unstructured time – For walking, resting, or writing alone

  • One-on-one mentorship – Individual conversations with experienced writers

  • Group sharing circles – Reading work aloud in a safe, supportive space

  • Evening storytelling around the fire – The oldest form of human connection

What makes Healers Hill different:

  • No wifi. No notifications. No pressure to be productive.

  • Emphasis on wellness as much as writing—rest, nourishment, and connection are prioritised

  • Nguni language focus – Writers are encouraged to write in their mother tongues

  • Rural setting – The hills themselves become part of the healing

Who Should Attend

The Healers Hill retreat is for writers who:

  • Feel burnt out, blocked, or disconnected from their creativity

  • Are working on a project and need focused time away

  • Write in isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, or siSwati (though writers in English are also welcome)

  • Want to connect with other writers in a small, intimate setting

  • Are ready to be cared for

No previous publication history is required. Whether you're a first-time writer or an established author, if you need to be at Healers Hill, there is a place for you.

What Participants Say

"I arrived at Healers Hill empty. I hadn't written in months. I wasn't sure I was a writer anymore. By the third day, I wrote a poem—the first in over a year. It wasn't the poem that healed me. It was the silence. The hills. The way no one asked me to be anything other than myself."

— Previous retreat participant

"The retreat didn't just give me time to write. It gave me permission to rest. I didn't realise how exhausted I was until I stopped. I came home able to write again, but more importantly, I came home able to breathe."

— Previous retreat participant

Facilitators

Kwazi Ndlangisa – Founder of Imilolozelo (formerly IKhambi Writers Hub), award-winning poet, and author of Collecting Self and Vukani Kusile. Kwazi facilitates the retreat's core writing sessions and one-on-one mentorship conversations.

Guest mentors – Each retreat features one or two guest mentors—published writers, editors, or wellness practitioners—who bring additional perspectives and expertise.

Upcoming Retreat Dates

Retreat 1: 16–20 March 2026

Application deadline: 06 March 2026

How to Apply

Applications for Healers Hill are by written submission. To apply, please send:

  • A brief introduction – Who you are, where you're from, and why you're seeking this retreat

  • A writing sample – 1–3 poems OR a short story (in any language, with English translation if not in English)

  • What you hope to gain – A short paragraph about what you're looking for

Email your application to [email protected] with the subject line: "Healers Hill Application – [Your Name]"

Cost and Sponsorship

Retreat fee: FREE for selected participants

This includes:

  • 5 days / 4 nights accommodation

  • All meals (traditional, home-cooked)

  • All workshop sessions and mentorship

  • Retreat materials

  • Transport to/from UMzimkhulu town (if needed)

Partner with Us

If you would like to sponsor a writer's attendance, contribute resources, or partner with us to expand the retreat programme, we would love to hear from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a "serious" writer to attend?

If you feel called to attend, you belong here. "Serious" doesn't mean published. It means showing up.

What language are the sessions conducted in?

Sessions are primarily in isiZulu and English, with flexibility depending on participant needs.

Is the retreat suitable for beginners?

Absolutely. We've had participants who have never shared their writing with anyone before.

What should I bring?

Comfortable clothing, a notebook and pen, any books that inspire you, and an open heart.

Can I attend if I don't write in an indigenous language?

Yes. While our focus is on Nguni languages, writers in English are also welcome. What matters most is your need for rest and renewal.

Is the retreat accessible for people with disabilities?

Our current venue has limited accessibility. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Apply Now

You don't have to earn rest. You don't have to prove you deserve it. If you need Healers Hill, it is for you.

The Healers Hill Nguni Writers Retreat is a project of Imilolozelo (formerly IKhambi Writers Hub), a Non-Profit Company dedicated to preserving indigenous languages through literary arts.

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