Club Med Kzn Resort To Combine Beach And Bush

Club Meds first property in Southern Africa set to open near Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal KZN, in 2026 is aiming to bring locals and international visitors to the province with a concept that combines beach and bush.

Speaking during last weeks WTM Africa event, Club Med representatives outlined how the R2billion 93million property, financed entirely by South African investors, is poised to grow tourism and economic activity in KZN. The property will combine a 411-room beach resort and a 75-room safari lodge. After some initial setbacks including the COVID pandemic, and the KZN floods and unrest, construction finally began last year.

Tourism in KZN has struggled to recover post-pandemic, according to recent data shared by SATSA. Travel Smart Crews data shows that the province accounted for just 2.7 of the groups annual turnover in 2023 while New Frontiers data shows that KZNs share of room nights dropped from 8 in 2019 to 5 in 2023 and 2024.

But Club Med Southern Africa MD Olivier Perillat-Piratoine is banking on the Club Med effect.

The number of tourists in South Africa amounted to nine million last year and only a fraction 350000 go to KZN. We are going to close this gap. We are going to contribute towards growing the numbers and put KZN in the spotlight with our global clientele, he said.