Cultural Tours by Hillcrest AIDS Centre

About Cultural Tours by Hillcrest AIDS Centre

As part of the scenic loveliness of the Valley of 1 000 Hills, Hillcrest is a gorgeous suburb on the outer reaches of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. More than this, though, Hillcrest is home to the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT), which is a non-profit organisation that is committed to providing love and practical support to those affected by HIV/AIDS, directly or indirectly.

The HACT experience includes cultural tours that invite visitors to see and feel the unique nature of Zulu life, both modern and traditional, first hand. The tour is hosted by the gogos (a South African term for grandmothers), who have lifetimes of experience in the customs and traditions of the Zulu culture. They begin the tour at the HACT's AIDS centre, where visitors get important insights into the community care and medical initiatives underway to combat some of the challenges of this disease.

Then, visitors move onto the Zulu homestead in KwaNyuswa, a traditional community in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal. The team from the HACT's Gogo Support Groups Programme awaits their guests' arrival and puts on a fantastic vibrant Zulu dance performance for the spectators. A hearty lunch follows, which has been prepared by the community using locally sourced ingredients. The gogos' community vegetable garden provides fresh, tasty veggies that are untouched by pesticides, making this lunch even more irresistible.

Many of the Gogos care for their grandchildren that have lost their parents to AIDS. This community initiative helps to uplift the lives of these families and to promote the efforts of the gogos. Going on a HACT cultural tour means that you get to play a part in supporting these communities and improving their prospects, both in the long and short terms.