It's 5:30 a.m., and instead of rolling over in bed, we're already getting ready to head out in search of lions, cheetahs and elephants. A few days later, the scenery will change completely: The wildlife reserve and glamping accommodations will give way to the ocean, swimming pools and surfboards. We traveled to South Africa to experience Club Med's new vacation concept, which combines a safari lodge in the heart of a nature reserve with a beachfront resort in the Durban area.
Giraffes we encountered along the way
(Credit: Travel bloggers michal_and_amit)
Club Med's Vikela Safari Lodge is about a four-hour drive from Durban. Accommodations consist of glamping rooms for couples and families, all located within the same complex. Club Med's signature all-inclusive concept applies here as well, with three meals a day featuring local dishes and a bar serving soft drinks and alcoholic beverages until 10 p.m.
Anyone coming here for the nightlife might be disappointed, but there's a good reason for that. The day starts extremely early, with a fascinating sunrise safari. We arrived at the lodge around midday, settled into our rooms, had a meal and immediately got ready for our first sunset safari.
The price of the stay includes two safari excursions a day, at sunrise and sunset, each lasting several hours. On our very first outing, we spotted cheetahs, followed by lions, giraffes and zebras. After about two and a half hours of driving, our driver-guide stopped at a lookout point, brought out soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and gave everyone a few minutes to take in what we had seen before returning to the lodge.
A glamping room at Vikela Safari Lodge
(Photo: Chris ALLAN)
A cheetah we encountered on safari
(Photo: Idan Bloemhof)
There's also a small ritual surrounding the morning safari. About half an hour before departure, coffee, tea and cakes are served, and toward the end of the excursion, there's another stop in the bush for hot drinks and cookies. During our stay, we managed to go on four safari excursions, spotting lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, zebras, hippos and cheetahs, among other animals.
On our second evening, after returning from the reserve, the lodge hosted an event in its boma, a traditional outdoor gathering area, featuring singing, dancing and a meal of local dishes. It was a much more relaxed ending to a day that had begun before sunrise.
On the third day, after a sunrise safari and breakfast, we said goodbye to the reserve and set off for the second part of our vacation: Club Med's beachfront resort in the Durban area. After a drive of about four hours, we arrived at the resort, where a local band welcomed guests and immediately made it clear that the pace here was completely different from that of the quiet safari lodge.
The resort has more than 400 rooms, ranging from accommodations for couples and families to suites, spread across expansive public areas and several types of swimming pools. In addition to the main pool, there's an adults-only Zen pool, a family pool and a separate pool area reserved for suite guests.
Club Med's beachfront resort in South Africa, on the shores of the Indian Ocean
(Photo: Julia Ida Maria)
A change of scenery: The main pool at Club Med's beachfront resort
(Photo: Julia Ida Maria)
The dining options are also more extensive than at the safari lodge. The main restaurant, Oceana, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, combining local cuisine with Western dishes. The Nguni restaurant offers light meals during the day and operates by reservation in the evening. The resort also has several bars, including a main bar, a beachside bar, a bar at the adults-only pool, one in the family area and another reserved for suite guests.
We ate most of our meals at the main restaurant, which offered a wide selection of fresh food, and tried Nguni one evening as well. The transition from the intimate safari lodge to the sprawling resort is immediately noticeable. There's less of a feeling of being immersed in a wildlife reserve and much more of a classic Club Med beach vacation.
Club Med's beachfront resort overlooks the Indian Ocean
(Photo: Julia Ida Maria)
As at other Club Med resorts, guests here can fill much of their day with sports and activities. The property has tennis, padel and soccer courts, archery facilities, circus activities, yoga and Pilates classes and a gym. Guests can also go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding on the resort's lake, with instructors available for some activities.
One of the standout activities is surfing. The KwaZulu-Natal coastline is known for its waves, and the resort has a surf school offering lessons for beginners and more experienced surfers alike. Guests can also rent equipment and head out to surf independently, while private lessons cost extra.
For families, the resort offers children's clubs divided by age group, from babies to teenagers, with instructors and activities tailored to each group. Some services for the youngest children carry an additional charge.
Guests looking to venture beyond the resort can choose from organized excursions in the area, including wildlife viewing and tours of Durban. We had planned to go on a marine safari to watch whales and dolphins, but the weather disrupted our plans. Instead, we visited a monkey reserve about half an hour from the resort. The tour isn't long, but it offers a chance to get remarkably close to the monkeys and watch them roam and eat throughout the park.
A monkey we encountered during the tour
(Photo: Idan Bloemhof)
In the evening, the resort returns to one of Club Med's best-known traditions: parties and dress codes. A few days before our arrival, we received a list of the planned look for each evening, ranging from all-white outfits to elegant attire and African-themed clothing. Participation is optional, of course, but quite a few guests join in, making it part of the atmosphere.
Once a week, the resort hosts a garden party featuring dinner and live performances, followed by a party that continues late into the night. We happened to arrive on the evening it took place. Over the following days, the entertainment changed each night, from live bands to dancers performing among the guests and inviting them to take part in the show.
Party time
(Credit: Idan Bloemhof)
So how much does the entire package cost?
According to the price we were quoted, a seven-night vacation in October for a couple and two children ages 4 and 8, including three nights at the safari lodge and four nights at the beachfront resort, costs 7,730 euros for the family. The price does not include flights or transfers and varies depending on travel dates and the number of guests.
Children must be at least 4 years old to stay at the safari lodge. At Club Med, children under 4 stay free of charge, although flights and transfers must still be paid for. Certain programs for babies and young children that provide more intensive supervision are available for an additional fee.
The writer was a guest of Club Med in South Africa.