Club Med's South African Beach-Safari Escape Opens in 2026

Club Med is set to launch its first South African all-inclusive resort along the Dolphin Coast, north of Durban, expected to open in July 2026. The new property will blend seaside luxury with wildlife immersion by integrating with the Mpilo Safari Lodge, which sits on an 18 000-hectare private reserve home to the Big Five.

The resort will house 411 accommodations: 310 Superior, 35 Deluxe, and a high-end Ilanga section featuring 66 suites with private pools and bespoke service.

Its architectural design will lean heavily on locally sourced stone and light wood, generous glazing, and configurations that embrace the surrounding dunes, forests, and shoreline.

During a site inspection, Collins Group's developer and residential director, Chris du Toit, guided observers around the property. According to statements from his team, the layout already hints at what's to come: a restaurant seating around 1 000 guests, bars offering dune and pool views, a 1 000-m² kitchen for large events, and multiple pools tailored to diverse guest profiles, including the exclusive Ilanga enclave.

The resort's leisure offerings will be rich and varied, according to project briefings. Guests can expect tennis and padel courts, yoga pavilions, a surf school, flying trapeze setups, and guided gravel bike excursions through the coastal terrain. Meanwhile, Mpilo Safari Lodge will operate 75 premium tents in zones suitable for families, with its own pools and curated safari drives to showcase lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo in their natural habitats.

The development is being executed by Collins Residential in partnership with a South African investment consortium. Construction currently engages about 1 200 local workers, and upon full operation, the project is projected to generate more than 2 300 direct and indirect jobs.

In alignment with community upliftment goals, the "Happy to Care" corporate social responsibility programme has collaborated with the Nukakamma Talent Development Centre to train 160 youths in hospitality. According to project sources, graduates will be considered for roles at the resort and in Club Med properties internationally.

Sustainability is central to the resort's blueprint, according to the design framework. Features planned include solar carports, natural ventilation, green roofing, rainwater-saving systems, and a "Bye-Bye Plastics" initiative. The development is aiming for Green Globe and Green Star certifications, and local farmers will be integrated into the food supply chain through a partnership with the French NGO Agrisud.

Reservations are slated to open in October 2025, with recommended packages lasting 7–10 nights (inclusive of 2–3 nights at Mpilo Lodge) or 14 nights including a Cape Town extension. Transfers from King Shaka International Airport will take roughly 30 minutes.