When you return home with too many bad selfies and no voice, you know you had a good time. That was the case with the recent launch of the much-anticipated Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari Resort. The excitement was tangible as guests from Joburg, Cape Town and around the world arrived for the official inauguration of the country’s first-ever Club Med resort between 15 and 18 September 2026. Marimba beats and friendly faces welcomed guests to the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphin Coast – one of South Africa’s most pristine and underrated coastlines. As Club Med CEO, Stéphane Maquaire said, it truly was a “collective moment of happiness.” Fitting into the theme of the brand’s most recent campaign, The Art of Free Time, this is one of the new resorts in KwaZulu-Natal that understands modern travellers’ aspirations.

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Club Med South Africa Opening

The three-day event kicked off with Club Med’s traditional White Night, where all the guests come to dinner dressed in white. Flowy white dresses and linen shirts were at the order of the day as guests meandered through an impressive array of buffet options – from fresh crayfish and prawns to delicious salads and more. It was the ultimate Bohemain dream under metres and metres of string lights with the ocean’s subtle rumble in the background being challenged by jovial chatters and upbeat music. The White Night was the perfect introduction to South Africa’s first Club Med resort, setting the tone for what was to come over the next two days. It was also symbolic for the Club Med brand, which has now officially entered a chapter of “accelerated development,” according to Maquaire, with more resorts to follow across the globe. According to him, “South Africa connects with what Club Med is about: kindness, generosity, and the culture of being together.”

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Following dinner, we were all ushered to Dune Beach Bar where we danced the night away with live music, voluntarily submitting to the Club Med party tradition and happily letting our hair loose. It was after twelve that we retreated to our cosy room – complete with a main bedroom and a twin room (ideal for the kids for next time when they join), a bathroom with a shower and a small balcony.

Breakfast was served up until 10:00 in the mornings, so we never felt rushed unless there were event-specific happenings we had to attend. In true Club Med-style, the breakfast buffets were just as impressive as the dinners, with anything from egg stations and deliciously fresh pastries to a waffle station with Nutella and even a smoothie station. Pacing yourself might pose as the biggest challenge when it comes to the new Club Med South Africa, with something to nibble on or something to sip on around every corner. Depending on what you feel like, there are two restaurants – Oceana Main Restaurant and Nguni Gourmet Club – to choose from. Add to that the five bars around the property – Injabulo Main Bar (which means joy), Dune Beach Bar, Gourmet Club Bar, EC Lounge Bar (for the Exclusive Collection only) and the Family Pool Bar – and you’re permanently sorted where food and drink is concerned.

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What Can You Do at Club Med South Africa?

Our second day at Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari was the ideal day to be out and about, exploring the 411-room resort’s various activities. From lounging by the Zen Pool, playing padel and Wikus discovering that flying trapeze might be a calling he’d been missing all along, it was a day filled with fun.

Club Med South Africa is also the first Club Med resort to offer its very own surf school, in collaboration with Hurricane’s experienced coaches. All levels of surfers are welcome, young and old. In addition, they also offer activities like kayak, stand up paddle, touch rugby, beach volley, tennis, bocce and archery.

The all-inclusive family resort boasts four heated pools. The main pool is located just below Oceana Main Restaurant, whilst the family pool is conveniently positioned adjacent to the children’s play area and water park. The Zen Pool is for adults only and links to the Gourmet Club Bar, and then there is also an Exclusive Collection Pool, which is exclusive to those staying at Club Med under the Exclusive Collection.

I always like to experience a destination in all four seasons, as that gives you a good idea of its adaptability come rain or shine. Our third and final day at the resort was rainy and whilst I love relaxing somewhere cosy with a book and a glass of bubbly (which I most certainly did), I do realise that visiting Club Med South Africa with the kids would look much different. Indoor (and, of course, outdoor) entertainment spaces are available for younger kids, as well as teens, with the various age-appropriate Kids Clubs keeping children busy all day long. The G.O.s (Gentle Organisers) involved with the kids’ activities are all very passionate about what they do. We met Daniel, a 22-year-old from Durban, who works at the Teens Club Med, catering to kids aged between 11 and 13. He says he loves this age group, as they always want to be active. There is also a Baby Club Med (4 months to 2 years), Petit Club Med (2 to 3 years), Mini Club Med (4 to 10 years) and the Chill Pass Club Med for kids aged between 14 and 17.

Further to this, guests can also enjoy some me-time at the Sothys Spa – the first Club Med spa to offer two different skincare brands: Sothys and Terres d’Afrique. Through the spa, you will also have access to the hammam and an outdoor palapa hut. *The spa is not included under the all-inclusive package unless you are visiting under the Exclusive Collection.

Guests can also explore beyond the resort, with Club Med South Africa offering various excursions that can be organised with the team on the ground. Whether you’d like to meet Zulu communities and explore their villages, set out to sea to discover dolphins and whales in their natural habitat, or head out for a local cooking class, you can pick and choose.

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The Dolphin Coast, KwaZulu-Natal

What makes Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari’s Beach Resort’s location so special, is the fact that it’s off the beaten track and away from the usual tourist hotspots of Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. The Dolphin Coast comes with its own uniqueness, offering incredible vistas across not only the Indian Ocean, but also sugarcane plantations that, when the wind moves in from the sea, make the hills around Club Med South Africa come alive with movement and beautiful light. The wild coastline also offers a pristine beach in front of the resort – the perfect spot for dipping your toes in the sand and frolicking with the waves’ foamy fringes as they pull back. Or, for the more adventurous, to go for a surf lesson!

Is It Worth Visiting This New All-Inclusive Resort?

Whether it’s an active holiday you’re after, or a laidback, poolside and beachside escape, Club Med South Africa beach and Safari is both, and a whole lot more. And, if you’re looking for an all-inclusive family holiday in South Africa, you can’t go wrong with this new resort. Especially if you want to experience both beach and bush, with the exclusive add-on of Vikela Safari Lodge – located four and a half hours from the Beach Resort – offering safaris for children from as young as four! (Club Med South Africa has transfers available between the Beach Resort and Vikela Safari Lodge, but guests can also book or arrange their own charter planes between the two destinations.)

What I liked about the experience at Club Med South Africa’s Beach Resort, which is what we got to experience, was that there really was something for everyone. Whilst the general resort boasts entertainment for young and old from dusk ’til dawn, the Exclusive Collection seems to be a little more exclusive, as the name suggests. You can therefore either come for the ultimate family beach holiday or family safari in South Africa, or opt for a slower pace at the Exclusive Collection at Club Med South Africa.

There is, of course, always some guidance from the G.O.s and often a nudge from the Chef de Village for guests to join in on the various activities – from the 76-year-old Club Med brand’s infamous Crazy Signs in the pool or at the bar, to water aerobics and more.

The themed evenings also naturally set the scene for celebration, with our three nights including the White Night, an evening inspired by South African vibes and an elegant evening where everyone got to dress up for the grand finale.

Designed with its location between the ocean and dune forests in mind, and bringing in lots of local elements, Club Med South Africa invites visitors to immerse themselves in the Ubuntu culture of the Rainbow Nation. The design is playful and with the help of local artisans and brands like Ashanti Design, a lot of intricate, yet impressive details have been woven into the design experience of the resort. Chef de Village, Barq Guessoum says: “Club Med is more than an experience. It’s about the story. It’s not the souvenir of the view, it’s the souvenir of emotion.” Both the design and the experiences at the resort make for those emotional souvenirs; memories that guests get to cherish for years to come.

Interesting Facts About Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari

• It’s the second-largest hospitality project in South Africa’s history.
• Up until now, they have created 2300 direct and indirect jobs, with 600 of these jobs being permanent direct jobs across the Beach Resort and the Safari Lodge.
• More than 35 local suppliers and service providers are currently engaged with Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari.
• 80% of positions at the Beach Resort are held by South African employees, with 100% of the positions at Vikela Safari Lodge being held by South Africans. Strong priority is also given to local recruitment.
• The resort has been awarded 4 stars (24 points) under the Green Star SA New Build Design Certification, recognising its sustainable design approach and environmental performance.
• 4000 indigenous trees were replanted, contributing to the restoration of coastal forest habitat and the strengthening of local biodiversity.

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