the Art of Creation is a seven-day writing retreat for women, inspired by the oldest creation story: six days of creating, and one sacred day of rest. Hosted at the genKati House in Johannesburg, South Africa, we honor the deep truth that women create life, and that same creative intelligence lives in everything we make: the words we write, the food we prepare, the clothes we stitch, the rituals we pass down, the ideas we shape into form. Each day gently invites you into a different form of making, reminding us that creativity doesn’t live only on the page. Every act becomes a meditation. Every object becomes a story.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Private Suite at the genKati House
Airport Transfers and transportation to scheduled tours
Tea blending class where you make your own tea infusion to take home
Introduction to beading technique as a matriarchal practice rooted in African traditions
Learn to make a South African dishes
Create your own bespoke African print garment
All scheduled sites; Free Time Activities Excluded
Explore the township of Soweto
Writing Sessions that support reflection, offering space to give language to what is being formed, refined and witnessed throughout the week.
Roundtrip Airfare from your home city to Johannesburg is not included. We can assist on finding you the right flight.
We are not responsible for any visa fees and/or requirements. Please make sure you have all required documents to enter the country
3.9% plus .30¢ for Credit Card Payments
Writing at the art of Creation is not treated as a separate activity, but as a natural extension of making. Each writing session is intentionally curated to mirror the day’s creation practice—whether kneading bread, blending tea, shaping beads, or sewing—allowing the hands to inform the page.
Tea becomes our first ritual, as participants begin crafting a personal tea blend, learning how intention and imagination set the tone for everything that follows.
Spend the day exploring beading as a matriarchal, intergenerational practice rooted in African traditions of adornment, resistance, and storytelling
Women bake the traditional South African steamed bread, dombolo together, learning about patience, touch, and transformation.
In South Africa, the weekends are filed with food markets! Visit the Fourways Market in Johannesburg and experience local food, music, and culture.
Explore the history of South Africa and Soweto, the township that was home to Nelson and Winnie Mandela. We will learn about the apartheid struggle.
Nestled in the Sandton suburb of Johannesburg, the genKati House is a boutique guesthouse and community space rooted in rest and grounded in community. Creative Kim Williams has curated a luxurious sanctuary that offers a unique blend of modern comfort and African hospitality, providing a serene retreat amidst the vibrant city life. As the only Black Woman Owned boutique guesthouse in Johannesburg, the genKati House is a cultural and wellness haven that fosters a sense of community through curated dining and cultural experiences, wellness and creative retreats, and dedicated to cultivating a safe and nurturing space for creative women to rest, connect, share, and bloom in community.
Spend four additional days wandering around CapeTown and exploring the Mother City before heading home. Visit Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Winelands, and Cape Point. All scheduled activities and transportation (including roundtrip airfare) included. Some meals are excluded. $1500 add on
