17 September–Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari (referred to as Club Med South Africa Resort) was officially inaugurated at a ceremony in KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa.

▲The official inauguration ceremony of Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari took place on September 17, with over 200 guests in attendance.

More than 200 guests attended the resort’s inauguration event, including Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa; Thamsanqa Ntuli, Premier of KwaZulu‑Natal; Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International; Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of ClubMed Lifestyle Group; Stéphane Maquaire, President and Chief Executive Officer of Club Med; and Moses Tembe, Chairman of Tinley Leisure.

▲Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism, South Africa

Patricia de Lille, speaking on behalf of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the resort’s launch ceremony, stated: “The value that Club Med sees in South Africa has now translated into tangible jobs, skills development and opportunities for South Africans, especially local communities. We thank Club Med Group and its partners for prioritising the employment of local residents, while bringing professional expertise and international reach to this project.”

▲Xu Xiaoliang, Co‑CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of ClubMed Lifestyle Group

Xu Xiaoliang, Co-CEO of Fosun International and Chairman of ClubMed Lifestyle Group, commented:“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.”

01. Building Benchmark Resorts with Acclaim and Commercial Success

Founded in 1950, the Club Med brand has consistently sought out rare, high-quality travel destinations worldwide, integrating its refined all-inclusive concept with local culture, landscapes and authentic experiences.

The newly launched Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari is located in KwaZulu-Natal, with a total investment exceeding 2 billion South African Rand. It marks the global debut of Club Med’s brand‑new Beach & Safari concept. The project combines South Africa’s two most iconic tourism offerings into one premium all-inclusive getaway. Guests staying at the beach resort in Tinley Manor can enjoy surfing on Indian Ocean beaches, alongside safari experiences at Vikela Safari Lodge within a private 18,000‑hectare Big Five wildlife reserve.

The beach resort sits on a 32-hectare coastal plot, approximately a 30-minute drive from King Shaka International Airport. It features more than 400 rooms, suites and villas, four swimming pools, dedicated family and adult-only zones, restaurants showcasing South African flavours and regional ingredients, plus a wide range of complimentary land and water activities. Highlights include South Africa’s first Club Med Surf School, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, padel, yoga and the brand’s iconic trapeze experience.

▲Guests enjoy a diverse range of holiday experiences at the South Africa resort

As part of the combined accommodation offering, Vikela Safari Lodge extends the journey into South Africa’s wildlife heritage with tented stays, guided safari drives and immersive nature encounters. This hybrid format is designed to encourage longer guest stays, attract international visitors and raise the profile of KwaZulu-Natal within Club Med’s global guest base and distribution network.

▲Guests can enjoy safari holiday experiences at Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari

Stéphane Maquaire, President and Chief Executive Officer of Club Med, said: “For 76 years, Club Med has been driven by a pioneering spirit, opening up new horizons, inventing new ways to travel and building lasting partnerships with stakeholders across all our operating destinations. By pairing the Indian Ocean coastline with Big Five safari experiences, we offer guests a fresh way to explore this extraordinary country. This launch reflects our confidence in South Africa’s tourism potential, as well as our commitment to creating long-term value through local talent, responsible tourism and strong partnerships.”

02. The South Africa Resort Prioritises Environmental Sustainability and Social Impact

Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari is owned and developed by South African local enterprise Tinley Leisure, bringing together local institutions, the private sector and women-led investment stakeholders. Operated by Club Med, the project unites local capital with global operational expertise. More than 2,300 direct and indirect jobs were created during construction, 600 permanent direct jobs have been created, and the project supports approximately 1,500 additional jobs. More than 80% of employees are local residents; more than 100 participants have completed their training pathway and are employed at the resort. This investment has delivered tangible employment opportunities, professional skills training and shared community value, helping build sustainable industries for KwaZulu-Natal’s long-term development.

Furthermore, the resort’s development and design fully take into account responsible resource management and biodiversity-focused environmental protection. Its sustainability goals include Green Globe certification. Having already obtained a 4-Star Green rating from the Green Building Council South Africa, the resort actively promotes green initiatives such as solar power systems, water-saving measures, single-use plastic reduction and food-waste reduction programmes.

▲Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari

Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, remarked: “This marks Club Med’s first resort in South Africa. Fosun hopes to bring more of its business lines to the country and develop more iconic projects here that combine substantial economic value with meaningful social impact. We look forward to deepening and expanding Fosun’s partnerships across Africa.”