Zulu culture will be at the heart of Club Med’s South African debut property, which will also be the all-inclusive player’s first-ever dual concept resort.
The new property, which will open in July 2026, will blend beach luxury on KwaZulu-Natal’s Dolphin Coast with a safari experience at Mpilo Lodge, a four-and-a-half hour transfer away, under the name Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari.
“It combines two sensational experiences in one all-inclusive Club Med package,” Club Med General Manager Pacific & New ESAP Markets Michelle Davies told media at an event in Sydney on Tuesday.
Designed to immerse guests in Zulu culture, both resorts emphasise sustainability and local integration. “This resort looks to not just provide you with a connection with the Zulu people, but really make sure that the Zulu culture is in the essence of this Club Med resort,” she said.
Beyond luxury travel, the new Club Med development aims to drive significant social and economic impact. The resort will create 800 local jobs directly, with another 1,500 supported through the supply chain.
Club Med is also expanding its partnership with Agrisud, a nonprofit initiative that teaches organic farming techniques to local communities and buys back produce to supply the resort kitchens.
“We buy land for the local community, teach them organic agricultural farming techniques, and have a buyback programme for fruits, vegetables, and other materials grown there,” Davies said. “It’s an incredible partnership that we are proud to bring to this destination.”
The resort is designed to serve three key audiences: families, active travellers and the corporate market. The beach resort will accommodate families with children as young as four months, while the safari lodge caters to children from four years and up, with tailored kids’ clubs and safari drives designed for younger attention spans.
Meanwhile, the resort will also become Club Med’s first to feature a dedicated conference centre, with capacity for up to 500 delegates. “This resort will be the first in our portfolio that will have a conference centre and multiple meeting rooms,” Davies confirmed, highlighting its value for incentive travel and business retreats.
Adventure-seekers are also in for a treat, with the resort to debut Club Med’s first-ever surf school, open to all levels. “It will cater to beginners, intermediate, and advanced surfers with equipment and coaching supplied,” Davies said. “Surfers can level up from an intermediate to advanced lesson, or embark on the sport altogether as part of a beginner course.”
