Club Med South Africa Marks Global Inauguration Of The Brand’s First Beach-And-Safari Resort Worldwide

The R2-billion, South African-owned resort in KwaZulu-Natal is the largest hospitality investment in South Africa and the SADC region since the 1970s. It also marks the global launch of Club Med’s new Beach & Safari offering, pairing the Indian Ocean coastline with a Big Five safari experience.

Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari Resort celebrated its global inauguration in KwaDukuza in September 2026, marking both the brand’s entry into South Africa and the worldwide debut of its new Beach & Safari concept.

The ceremony brought together representatives from national, provincial and local government, investors, tourism leaders, traditional leadership and surrounding communities, alongside the leadership of Tinley Leisure and Club Med, to mark the occasion.

Valued at more than R2 billion, the resort is owned and developed by Tinley Leisure (RF) Proprietary Limited and operated by Club Med, combining South African ownership and capital with Club Med’s global reach, operating expertise and 75 years of experience in premium all-inclusive travel.

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille described the development as a powerful vote of confidence in the country and its tourism sector: “This mega-development is a vote of confidence in South African enterprise, our people and the future of our tourism industry. It has created meaningful employment and opportunity for South Africans, particularly in surrounding communities, while attracting visitors and shared prosperity that extend beyond the resort’s gates.”

The resort welcomed its first guests on 4 July 2026. The global inauguration formally celebrated that milestone and culminated in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting by the leadership of Tinley Leisure and Club Med.

A new tourism proposition for South Africa

Club Med South Africa brings two of the country’s defining tourism experiences together in one premium all-inclusive journey. Guests can combine an Indian Ocean beach holiday at Tinley Manor with a stay at Vikela Safari Lodge, set within an approximately 18,000-hectare private Big Five reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Located on a 32-hectare oceanfront site approximately 30 minutes from King Shaka International Airport, the Beach Resort offers more than 400 rooms, suites and villas; four pools; family and adults-only spaces; and restaurants showcasing South African flavours and regional produce. Its extensive range of included land and water activities features Club Med’s first surf school in South Africa, as well as sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, padel, yoga and the brand’s signature flying trapeze.

Edward Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of Club Med Lifestyle Group, stated, “Club Med’s entry into South Africa marks an important step for Fosun to achieve win-win outcomes for all stakeholders together with local South-African partners. Moving forward, we hope to develop more iconic resort destinations that deliver both economic and social benefits and resonate strongly with

guests. Fosun also looks forward to bringing more of its businesses to Africa, deepening cooperation across cultural-tourism, biomedicine and other sectors, and opening a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Available exclusively as part of a combined stay, Vikela Safari Lodge extends the journey into South Africa’s wildlife heritage through luxury tented accommodation, guided game drives and immersive nature experiences. The format is designed to encourage longer stays, attract higher-value international visitors and raise KwaZulu-Natal’s profile across Club Med’s global customer and distribution network.

“For more than 75 years, Club Med has been driven by a pioneering spirit: opening new horizons, creating new ways to travel and building lasting partnerships in the destinations where we operate. South Africa is a natural next chapter in that story. By bringing together the Indian Ocean coastline and the Big Five safari experience, we are offering our guests a new way to discover this extraordinary country. This opening reflects our confidence in South Africa’s tourism potential and our commitment to creating long-term value through local talent, responsible tourism and strong partnerships,” said Stéphane Maquaire, President and CEO of Club Med.

South African ownership and investment with global reach

At the heart of the development is Tinley Leisure, a South African-owned company that brings together local institutional, private-sector and empowerment participation. Its shareholder consortium comprises African Bank Limited (ABL), the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, investors represented under the Trevally banner, and Tinley Leisure Women Investments. Absa Bank is the lender and Collins Residential the development partner.

Supported by the IDC, the participation of Tinley Leisure Women Investments advances women’s participation – particularly black women’s ownership and leadership – in a landmark hospitality project. It places transformation alongside employment, skills development and local procurement at the centre of the resort’s economic legacy.

Tinley Leisure Chairman Moses Tembe emphasised that the scale of the investment reflects long-term confidence in the destination: “Having everything that makes a place attractive does not automatically attract investment. It requires the right conditions, strong partnerships, and people who believe in the destination and are prepared to commit to it for the long term.”

Jobs, skills and shared local value

The project’s impact reaches well beyond the resort. It created more than 2,300 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 600 permanent direct jobs, while supporting approximately 1,500 additional jobs across sectors including agriculture, transport, maintenance, excursions, food and beverage, and logistics.

Local participation is evident throughout the workforce. South Africans comprise 84% of employees at the Beach Resort, while every employee at Vikela Safari Lodge was recruited locally. Women account for 58% of the G.O® and G.E workforce, and the management team is evenly split between women and men.

Through Club Med’s partnership with the Nukakamma Talent Development Centre, disadvantaged young South Africans received hospitality training that combined classroom learning, practical experience, industry exposure and mentorship. Participants have now completed the programme and

are employed at the resort, turning skills development into sustainable careers with the potential for future mobility across Club Med’s international network.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli highlighted the human impact behind the employment figures: “This investment is not merely about building structures. It extends an empowering hand to working men and women, giving families the ability to buy school uniforms, build homes, pay school fees and create a lasting source of livelihood for generations to come.”

Responsible tourism and community impact

The development has been designed around responsible resource management, local sourcing and biodiversity. Its sustainability commitments include Green Globe certification and a targeted 4-Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa, supported by solar energy, water-conservation measures, reduced reliance on single-use plastics and food-waste reduction programmes.

The resort’s local impact will extend further through the Club Med Foundation, established in 1978, and its first South African community programme with The Go Group Foundation. The Early Childhood Development initiative will support vulnerable children from birth to six years old in communities surrounding the resort by strengthening learning environments, training teachers and caregivers, supporting disability inclusion, improving nutrition through permaculture gardens and helping ECD centres become more resilient community assets.

Hosted by Jo-Ann Strauss, the inauguration was attended by Fosun International Chairman Guo Guangchang and IDC Board Chairperson Gloria Serobe. The programme featured addresses by Club Med Lifestyle Group Chairman Edward Xu Xiaoliang, Club Med Global CEO Stéphane Maquaire, Tinley Leisure Chairman Moses Tembe and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, and followed by a keynote address from Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille.

The event closed with a celebration of the people and partnerships behind the development – a reflection of what’s possible when South African investment, local talent and global tourism expertise unite around a shared vision.