New R2 billion resort in South Africa expecting 1,000 rich foreigners on opening day

A massive new R2 billion luxury resort is taking shape on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, with bookings opening in September 2025.

Scheduled to open in July 2026, the Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari resort is already generating significant interest. As many as 1,000 international guests are expected on opening day. 

Construction began in March 2024 and has since gained considerable momentum. As of the end of April 2025, the construction site has reached a milestone, employing over 1,400 workers daily. 

Bulk infrastructure services are nearly complete, including road networks, a dam, water pipelines, and three kilometres of permanent electrical cabling. 

The village and hotel accommodation blocks have reached roof height, with the first layers of paint applied, and interior fit-outs are about to begin. 

Key resort features such as the Convention Centre, Kids Club, family pool, sports facilities, Beach Club, and staff accommodation for 200 people are all progressing according to schedule. 

Landscaping and irrigation have also started, adding the first touches of greenery to the development.

From the beginning, Collins Residential has worked to ensure local community involvement through a formal Community Forum, comprising ward councillors, a traditional leader, and the client. 

The aim has been to hire local labour wherever possible, with many workers coming from within a 10-kilometre radius of the site. 

“We’re investing in the local economy and people,” said development manager Collins Residential CEO Murray Collins. 

“Every construction package includes clear targets for community involvement, and the contractor teams are backed by strong local labour.”

One reason for this is that Collins Residential has opted for a highly coordinated, multi-contractor strategy. 

This has been done instead of appointing one or two large contractors to oversee the entire build, breaking down the build into smaller projects for each contractor. 

The project has been divided into seven major construction packages, ranging from civil works and hotel blocks to luxury villas, infrastructure, staff accommodation, and resort amenities.

Each has been assigned to a contractor team chosen for its expertise and on-site presence. This deliberate approach allows the team to remain nimble, adapt to conditions on the ground, and ensure quality and accountability across all facets of the build.

Chris du Toit, Project Lead at Tinley Leisure, explained that splitting the project this way has enabled stronger relationships with contractor teams and enhanced oversight. 

“Our model allows us to adapt, pivot, and hold each contractor accountable in real-time,” he said. “While it’s more involved from our side, it’s how we believe we can best protect the integrity of this project.” 

Reservations opening soon

The site’s structure has been designed for efficiency, with access routes laid out to ensure work continues smoothly even in challenging conditions.

The timeline is tight with Club Med set to open global reservations in September 2025—ten months before the resort welcomes its first guests. 

“If you imagine 1,000 foreign guests arriving on opening day, we can’t very well send them packing back to Europe because the resort isn’t ready,” du Toit quipped.

This operation is being coordinated to meet a reverse-engineered timeline: every element must come together simultaneously, like perfectly interlocking puzzle pieces. 

“With the progress made on site to date, we’ve now reached a stage where the rhythm of work is syncing across the site,” said Collins. 

In addition to its grand scale, the Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari resort is also making headlines with its unique property investment offering. 

In late 2024, Collins Residential launched the sale of 66 luxury Villa-Suites located within the resort’s Exclusive Collection. 

These sectional-title units are open to both South African and international buyers and come with the added benefit of profit-sharing from hotel operations.

Investors can choose between two configurations: a 2-sleeper unit priced at R5.95 million, or a 4-sleeper unit at R8.95 million.

Described as a first-of-its-kind in Club Med’s global portfolio, the resort offers a distinctive blend of beach and bush, with a surf school and safari experience. 

Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari Construction