Club Med will open its first resort in South Africa in July 2026, bringing its all-inclusive holiday model to the country’s KwaZulu-Natal coast, Travel Weekly reported on July 10. The project marks the brand’s debut in South Africa and its first resort in mainland Africa.
The new Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari resort is located on the Dolphin Coast, north of Durban, and combines a beachfront property with a safari lodge experience in Zululand. The development is positioned as South Africa’s first high-end all-inclusive beach and safari resort.
Club Med said the resort will offer direct access to the Indian Ocean alongside wildlife experiences at Mpilo Safari Lodge, located within a Big Five reserve. Facilities will include watersports, snorkelling, sailing, padel courts, gravel biking and what the company describes as its first surf school, with lessons available for adults and children.
Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, said the project aims to strengthen the international appeal of KwaZulu-Natal while creating value for local communities. “Our new project seeks to create value for the local communities and enhance the international appeal of the magnificent province of KwaZulu-Natal,” he said in a company statement. Club Med
The resort is expected to create around 800 direct jobs and more than 1,500 indirect employment opportunities once operational, according to the company.
Club Med said sustainability measures at the resort will include solar energy, water conservation initiatives, reduced food waste and the elimination of single-use plastics. The company is also working with local suppliers and farmers through partnerships designed to support regional economic development.
Bookings for stays at Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari opened in October 2025, with the first guests scheduled to arrive in July 2026.