New R2 billion luxury beach resort and safari lodge in South Africa to launch soon

·16 Jan 2026

The new Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari development is progressing well and is set to open its doors on 4 July 2026.

This is feedback from the project leader, Chris du Toit, who has provided regular updates on the R2 billion development.

Du Toit has been involved with the Club Med South Africa project since 2018 and has played an integral part in making it a reality.

Last month, he said the development of the safari lodge, which forms part of the Club Med South Africa offering, is progressing well.

This week, he also posted photos which that showed the Club Med South Africa beach resort is nearing completion.

Towards the end of 2025, Club Med opened bookings, allowing people to request quotes for a holiday when it launches on 4 July 2026.

Club Med South Africa is developed in partnership with Collins Residential Consortium and managed by Club Med.

The resort represents a long-term commitment to sustainable tourism, local job creation, and economic development.

The confirmed launch comes after 2 years of construction, with over 1,200 construction workers on site.

Once operational, the resort is expected to create 800 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect opportunities, significantly boosting the local economy.

110 young people have enrolled in a dedicated training programme via the NukaKamma Hospitality School.

They are currently preparing for winter traineeships at Club Med resorts abroad, after which they will gradually integrate into the new resort’s staff.

The majority of these roles will be drawn from surrounding communities, in line with Club Med’s Happy to Care initiatives.

Club Med brings its signature all-inclusive experience to South Africa

Club Med will bring its signature all-inclusive experience to South Africa, where guests can expect premium accommodation, gourmet meals, and open bars.

It has 411 accommodations, including 310 superior rooms, 35 deluxe rooms and 66 suites in the exclusive collection.

The beach resort also features a wide range of land and water activities, as well as a dedicated kids’ club.

The resort’s kids’ clubs will offer tailored facilities and certified staff for children of all ages, from 4 months old.

There is also a strong focus on sport. Club Med visitors will enjoy sailing, surfing, diving, snorkelling, and a surf school.

The new Club Med will offer a unique bush experience through an exclusive safari lodge in the heart of a Big Five game reserve in the north of KwaZulu-Natal.

The lodge is located within the private Mpilo Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, which covers over 18,000 hectares.

The 80-room lodge is developed to Club Med standards to offer guests a dual beach and safari experience during their stay.

“Nestled in the heart of 18,000 hectares of private reserve, this lodge offers you total immersion in the magic of South African nature,” Club Med said.

“The destination is ideal for discovering a vast diversity of wildlife and going in search of the famous Big Five.”

Club Med South Africa beach resort

The Club Med South Africa beach resort offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, sports facilities, and high-end accommodation.

The main Oceana restaurant is an international buffet with five marine-inspired areas, an ocean-facing terrace, and a wine cellar.

The restaurant’s ambience combines discovery with the pleasures of fine dining, from breakfast to dinner.

Guests can enjoy dishes inspired by South African, Asian, European, and Mediterranean cuisine.

The Nguni Gourmet Club honours Southern African cuisine. It also offers ocean views, and its menu offers fresh, local, quality produce.

The dishes include meat, fresh fish, and regional specialities. “It is a surf and turf-style cuisine, faithful to its roots, where taste takes pride of place,” it said.

The resort also features the Dunes beach bar, a family pool bar, the Ilanga exclusive collection lounge bar, and the main Injabulo bar.

The main pool, in the heart of the resort, is L-shaped and ocean-facing. It has a range of depths, making it suitable for swimmers of all levels.

The family pool is next to the Children’s Clubs and the flying trapeze, perfect for spending quality time together.

The adults-only Zen pool faces the ocean and is near the Spa and cardio-training facilities. It’s lined with sun loungers and large four-poster daybeds.

There is a strong focus on keeping children entertained, with a Children’s Club catering for kids ranging from babies to 17-year-olds.

The activities include creative workshops, surfing, archery, group lessons in flying trapeze, padel tennis, tennis, and show time.

Mpilo Safari Lodge

Guests can combine their stay at the Club Med South Africa beach resort with an escape to Mpilo Safari Lodge.

This is a new game lodge located in a private 18,000-hectare reserve in Zululand that is home to the Big Five.

A short flight or drive from the beach resort, the lodge will feature 75 premium tents and the Club Med experience, set against the backdrop of the wild African safari.

The 75 premium tents at the Mpilo Safari Lodge offer a mix of 55 family rooms and 20 adult-only rooms.

It is set on a hill with 180-degree views overlooking mountain ranges and the Mkuze River in the nature resort.

To maintain an exclusive feel, the Mpilo Safari Lodge caps its capacity at approximately 225 guests per night.

Guests can enjoy twice-daily guided safaris in open-air vehicles led by expert rangers.