Cover Opened this July, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari combines exhilarating safari adventures with the comforts of a luxury beach resort
Opened this July, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari combines exhilarating safari adventures with the comforts of a luxury beach resort
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From exhilarating game drives in northern KwaZulu-Natal to serene retreats along the Dolphin Coast, Tatler discovers how Club Med’s first South African resort pairs the thrill of the bush with the pleasures of seaside luxury
The first rays of sunlight spill across the horizon as we gather at Vikela Safari Lodge for an early-morning game drive. Set within an 18,000-hectare private reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the lodge forms the safari wing of Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari, the all‑inclusive resort that opened this July. Alongside fellow media guests from around the world, we have been invited to experience Club Med’s inaugural South African property, a destination that pairs the untamed wilderness of the bush with the pleasures of the Indian Ocean. The reserve lies a four-and-a-half-hour drive from the beach resort and is home to the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros—as well as giraffes, zebras, antelope and warthogs. On a chilly September morning, however, it is the lions we are hoping to find.
An hour into the drive, our open 4x4 comes to a sudden stop as we spot a pride of lions stalking a sounder of warthogs—or “Pumbas”, as we affectionately call them after The Lion King—just metres away. The warthogs make a lucky escape into the thick bushes, leaving the pride without breakfast. As the lions turn towards us, we sit frozen in our seats, wondering if they might be considering us for their next meal. But as our guide, Doctor Love, reminded us before the drive: remain still, make no sudden movements and keep quiet. The animals, he assured us, would simply pass by. We hold our breath as the pride strolls within metres of the vehicle before disappearing into the tall grass.
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Above The private game reserve lies a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Club Med’s beach resort and is home to the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros
The private game reserve lies a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Club Med’s beach resort and is home to the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros
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It is encounters such as these that make South Africa such a compelling holiday destination, and part of the reason Club Med chose to establish a presence in the country with an experience rooted in a strong sense of place. As president and CEO Stéphane Maquaire explains, South Africa embodies the spirit of togetherness, kindness and generosity that defines the Club Med brand. Rather than choosing established destinations such as Cape Town or Johannesburg, Maquaire adds that “we are establishing a new tourism destination on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal because Club Med has a unique ability to pioneer new regions.”
Situated in the heart of the sprawling game reserve, yet safely separated from the wildlife by electrified fencing, Vikela Safari Lodge feels worlds away from the bustle of the city. A sense of tranquillity permeates the property, from the welcoming lobby to the luxurious safari tents, whose design draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape. As Victoria Wood, managing director of Cape Town-based interior design firm Mobius, which worked on the property’s design alongside Craft of Architecture and MHNA interior design studio, explains: “The landscape at the reserve is breathtaking, so our interior design was created to complement rather than compete with the natural surroundings.”
The 75 safari tents take their colour cues from the changing hues of an African sunrise, with warm earth tones complemented by the comforts of a refined retreat. According to Maquaire, 55 were designed with families in mind, while the remaining 20 cater to adults seeking a quieter escape amid nature. It is an approach that plays to one of Club Med’s strengths: creating an experience that accommodates different types of travellers without compromising the spirit of a safari adventure.
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Above Vikela Safari Lodge
Above Performers in traditional Zulu attire
Vikela Safari Lodge
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The South African connection continues at the all-day restaurant Inyathi, where we sample local game meats, including impala, kudu and warthog, alongside more familiar Western fare. The meats are prepared in everything from rich curries to spiced sausages. As evening falls, the celebration moves to the terrace, where we gather around a bonfire for sundowners before heading to the boma, a traditional African gathering space, for wine and light bites accompanied by a Zulu dance performance. From our front-row seats, we watch dancers in traditional attire carrying shields and spears as they leap and stamp to the rhythmic beat of drums, their chants echoing across the reserve.
And yet, for all its drama, the safari is only half the experience. Back at Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari, the 32-hectare coastal resort moves to the unhurried rhythm of the Indian Ocean rather than the movements of wildlife. The property is also home to Club Med’s first-ever surf school, led by a team of expert coaches. As tempting as it is to learn to surf in a destination renowned for its powerful waves, formidable ocean swells and rainy weather put paid to our plans, prompting us to explore the many activities on land instead.
Embracing the brand’s new ethos, the “art of free time”, Maquaire encourages us to experience the resort in all its glory—whether that means learning archery under the guidance of an instructor, trying our hand at padel or indulging a childhood dream of joining the circus with a session on the flying trapeze. The beauty of a stay here, Maquaire adds, lies in the freedom of choice. With no rigid itineraries to follow, guests can fill their days with activities or simply enjoy the luxury of doing nothing at all. After all, isn’t that the point of a relaxing holiday?
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Above The property is also home to Club Med’s first-ever surf school, led by a team of expert coaches
The property is also home to Club Med’s first-ever surf school, led by a team of expert coaches
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The resort provides an inviting setting in which to do just that. Designed with comfort and relaxation in mind, its 411 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies that frame sweeping views of the ocean or surrounding landscape. The interiors draw on the colours of the sea, pairing natural timber with shades of turquoise, emerald green and deep marine blue, while ground-floor terraces offer a secluded vantage point from which to enjoy the coastal air.
The design narrative extends to the communal spaces, with Wood sharing that “our material palette reflects the blues of the ocean, the textures of the dune forest and the rich clay earth found on site”. Subtle references to local culture are woven throughout. At the main bar, where we find ourselves lingering over midday coffee or pre-dinner cocktails, a striking ceiling feature takes inspiration from the silhouette of the traditional Zulu hat, or isicholo. “That shape became an architectural focal point, with woven ceiling details continuing the motif to blend Club Med’s signature colourful style with local cultural elements,” says Wood.
Local craftsmanship also finds expression in the finer details, reflecting the resort’s commitment to celebrating South African culture and heritage. “We collaborated with local craftspeople for small-scale details,” Wood adds. “For instance, we worked with lighting brand Ashanti Design on custom sculptural features that cascade through the stairwell lobbies, reflecting our shared values of craftsmanship and human connection.”
Above Designed with comfort and relaxation in mind, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari’s 411 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies
Designed with comfort and relaxation in mind, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari’s 411 rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies
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Maquaire reveals that Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari represents the country’s largest hospitality investment since the opening of Sun City Resort in the 1970s. Beyond strengthening South Africa’s appeal as a holiday destination, the development has also brought employment and economic opportunities to the surrounding communities, supporting approximately 1,500 indirect jobs and creating 600 permanent direct positions. For the resort’s dining concepts, which range from all-day dining at Oceana Restaurant to the more intimate Nguni Gourmet Club, the Club Med team visited culinary schools to recruit aspiring South African chefs directly.
What makes the experience compelling, however, is how naturally these contrasting worlds come together. One moment, we are watching lions move through the grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal; the next, we are beside the Indian Ocean, deciding how to spend an afternoon at a resort built around the freedom to do as much or as little as we please. For Club Med, the South African experience is ultimately about bringing these two worlds together: the thrill of the wild, the ease of the coast and a deeper connection to the people and culture of the destination. By the time we leave, it becomes clear that this is more than a new resort. It offers a different way of discovering South Africa, one that makes room for both adventure and indulgence.
Credits
Images: Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari
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Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
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