Club Med, the pioneer of all-inclusive vacations, has completed one of the most symbolic steps in its global growth strategy by opening its first resort in South Africa, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari. Located on the Dolphin Coast in the KwaZulu-Natal region along the Indian Ocean, north of Durban, the resort is the country’s first luxury all-inclusive project.
Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari also represents a significant investment for the local economy. Financed by a South African investment consortium and developed by Collins Residential, the project was brought to life with an investment budget of approximately 100 million euros. The project, which employed 1,200 workers—the vast majority of whom were from surrounding communities—during the construction phase, created 800 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs upon its opening, thereby providing significant added value to the local labor market.
110 local young people who received specialized training at the NukaKamma Hospitality School and completed their internships at other Club Med resorts during the winter season have also joined the professional staff as resort employees.
Placing the principles of sustainable development and corporate responsibility at the heart of its operations, the resort stands out as one of the most advanced examples of Club Med’s global “Happy to Care” program. Built on the site of a former sugarcane plantation with ecological balance in mind, the resort operates with green roofs, solar-powered parking lots equipped with photovoltaic panels, and advanced water-saving systems. With this investment, the resort aims to achieve Green Globe certification and a 4-star Green Star environmental rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). Additionally, the resort implements the “Bye-Bye Plastics” program, which completely eliminates single-use plastics.
One of the project’s most significant micro-impacts on the local economy lies in supply chain management. Through its Green Farmers program, Club Med directly sources the resort’s food and services from local farmers and producers, thereby directly supporting agricultural development and micro-entrepreneurship in the region.
Speaking at the opening, Stéphane Maquaire, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Club Med, said: “This first investment of ours in South Africa is one of the most symbolic steps in Club Med’s global growth strategy and our vision to bring our premium all-inclusive concept to new regions. This project we’ve brought to life is not only a unique innovation that offers our guests a combined beach and safari experience; it also creates a sustainable development model for the regional economy by generating more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. We are delighted to grow while preserving the unique natural beauty of the KwaZulu-Natal region and maintaining full integration with local communities and the supply chain.
With this investment, built on a 32-hectare coastal property, Club Med offers its guests a beachfront stay along the Indian Ocean while also providing an integrated safari experience through the Vikela Safari Lodge, located within the resort’s exclusive 18,000-hectare conservation area. The 75 premium tented lodges in this exclusive conservation area—home to Africa’s “Big Five”—along with the 411 guest rooms at the main resort, solidify the region’s position on the global luxury tourism map.
The resort also features the high-end Exclusive Collection – Ilanga section, which blends Zulu culture with contemporary architecture and comprises 66 private suites; the brand’s first-ever Surf School in the world; private sports areas; two concept restaurants (Oceana and Nguni Gourmet Club); and gourmet bars. All these options elevate the resort’s all-inclusive luxury experience to a whole new level.
With its new property, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari, Club Med is expanding its presence on the African continent while continuing to lead the way in sustainable luxury tourism investments on a global scale.
