Property

New luxury beach resort in South Africa

Bianke Neethling • 13 February 2025

Construction of Club Med’s first resort in Africa is progressing well. It is set to open in July 2026, and South Africans can now buy suites in the resort’s Exclusive Collection.

This resort, set to open in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, will be the first in South Africa, and it marks Club Med’s first in mainland Africa.

The French travel operator, known for its all-inclusive holiday experiences, is developing the resort in partnership with the Collins Residential Consortium.

The project is funded by South African debt funders and equity partners under Tinley Leisure.

This consortium has backing from Africanbank, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Tinley Leisure Women’s Investment Group, Collins Residential, and Absa.

Chris du Toit, Tinley Leisure’s development director, told Daily Investor that the investment consortium comprises South African partners who have invested more than R2 billion in the development of Club Med South Africa.

Construction commenced in March 2024, and KwaZulu-Natal was chosen for its diverse natural beauty, pristine beaches, mountain ranges, and wildlife reserves.

The resort’s North Coast location also benefits from a warm coastal climate with over 300 days of sunshine annually.

Du Toit said the resort is conveniently 20 minutes from King Shaka International Airport, a key requirement for Club Med.

“This was a prerequisite of Club Med’s – that the resort is less than 40 mins from an international airport,” he said.

Du Toit believes Club Med will stand out among all the other resorts in the area by introducing its signature all-inclusive experience.

“It will offer premium accommodation where everything is taken care of – from gourmet meals and never-ending entertainment to a wide range of land and water activities, as well as dedicated kids clubs, all included in the nightly price,” he said.

A spokesperson for Club Med told Daily Investor that this resort has a total capacity of over 1,000 people, comprising 345 hotel rooms, 66 villa suites, which are part of the Exclusive Collection, and an 80-room lodge in the bush.

Only the 66 villa suites are within the Exclusive Collection, and these are available for purchase on a sectional title basis.

South African and international buyers are eligible to purchase these suites.

The organisation explained that by purchasing a villa suite, owners participate in the profit-sharing of the hotel, with Club Med as the global brand partner responsible for filling rooms and attracting international visitors.

Owners also earn a dividend on the successful operations of the hotel.

The average price for one of these units is as follows:

2-sleeper unit: R5.95 million
4-sleeper unit: R8.95 million

Construction of the resort is progressing incredibly well. It commenced in March 2024, and over 1,000 people, including contractors and subcontractors, are currently on-site daily.

The project has a very tight construction schedule and remains on track for completion to open in July 2026.

However, Club Med’s global reservations for the resort will open 12 months prior. Therefore, in June and/or July of this year.

From July 2026, 400 foreign guests per week – primarily from the French and Belgian markets – are expected to arrive.

“Unlike traditional hotels that gradually build occupancy, Club Med resorts tend to launch with high occupancy due to their strong global following,” the organisation said.

“This resort is unique within Club Med’s global portfolio of 70 resorts. It features several world firsts, including the combination of a bush experience and a surf school.”

“South Africa’s cultural diversity, culinary richness, and unique landscape make it an incredibly appealing destination for international travellers, who view it as an exotic location.”

Below is an overview of where construction currently stands and rendered images of what the resort is expected to look like.