The Combined Safari and Beach Holiday You Never Knew You Needed

We all know what Club Med is about; pioneers of the all-inclusive concept covering dream destinations around the world. The brand has grown into a travel giant and even casual holidaymakers know the name. I know them primarily for their ski and beach offerings but was surprised to learn they actually operate in more than 30 countries today. South Africa has just joined the list, and I wanted to see first hand how this combined beach and safari concept would work.

After a short drive of no more than 30 minutes from the international airport in Durban, I was standing on a ridge overlooking the coast in the distance with the vast proprty itself ahead of me.

The resort offers 345 Superior and Deluxe rooms set within sleek, contemporary buildings that blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. The staff are nearly all local, or come from other resorts in the wider Club Med family, to keep everything feeling consistent with the ethos the brand is known for.

Each room is bright, modern and styled with raw materials and colours inspired by the South African coastline, creating an immersive sense of place. For the most discerning of guests, Ilanga, the resort’s Exclusive Collection Space, offers a more intimate and refined escape with 66 suites. Guests can enjoy enhanced comfort in thoughtfully designed suites featuring soothing colours and calming interiors, alongside access to a private Ilanga pool reserved exclusively for Exclusive Collection guests.

I would never really consider myself the target market for a Club Med experience, but when I saw the variety of people staying here I realised that this type of holiday aims to cater for everyone. Sure you can get lost in the excellent open buffet area for hours and eat your way through local and international cuisine until you can't eat any more, but there is so much more to do that I never got the sense that I would get bored.

The surf school was popular, even though the seasonal waves were particularly rough in September. There is a nearby golf course you can book too as well as other activities both on the sea or within the resort on a manmade lake. I was impressed - and shame on me for assuming this would be a sedate affair with little to do for an adventurer like me...

I ended up spending a lot of time in the spa and by the pool, obviously.

Club Med is also known for its parties and events. All guests get to experience this to some degree, so the outdoor dining night was a popular one. This isn't a one-off either - sometimes you do get the special treatment as press - this is something that happens often at various properties in the portfolio.

A braai grill was in heavy use with meats, fish and vegetables on the go throughout the evening. On another night there was the traditional club med party, something new to me but judging by the willingness of the audience participating, something regulars know all too well.

The 'typical' Club Med beach resort had won me over and I felt like I was now understanding the concept, as well as the popularity of it all. Then came a dramatic gear change as we checked out, hit the road and were on the way for an entirely different experience within the same holiday.

My big regret when I visited South Africa for the first time was in skipping a safari experience in favour of a short game drive in Zambia. Don't get me wrong, it was still an incredible experience, so good that I couldn't wait to come back to the country, but I still felt like I missed out in some way.

Thankfully this 7 day itinerary had two days at Vikela Safari Lodge built in, and in essence serves as an all-inclusive, all-inclusive dual South African trip. You get to relax and unwind at the beach then head inland to the wilderness of KwaZulu-Natal where the classic vision of marauding animals across vast plains become a vivid reality.

To catch a glimpse of the 'Big Five', you have to be willing to put the hours in. This isn't a zoo with the animals conveniently waiting for feeding time in specific locations, this is an organic setting and nature does its own thing.

You can find all of the traditional five here, although some are definitely rarer than others. Rhinos, African elephants and Cape Buffalo are relatively easy to spot with lions proving a little more difficult to see as they tend to be more active at either end of the day.

Leopards are the outlier and even our guide for two days of safari had only seen the elusive big cat a handful of times. To have any chance of seeing the animals, you have to start early in the day. The 6am wake up calls were made a little easier thanks to the comfortable tents we were booked into.

Vikela Safari Lodge was a pleasant surprise and a welcome one at that. The long hours in our jeep were punctuated with picnics and impromptu coffee breaks, but you do need a proper base that feels like home.

Waking up to incredible views and falling asleep to the nocturnal sounds of the bush were enriching. I spent a few afternoons after a hearty lunch in the main dining area working on some campaigns we were prepping at work, and it felt like the time flew by. There's a quiet library space on site if you need to stay online or you can just slink off you your private tent to purge some emails over a cup of tea.

That's the safari experience in a nutshell, an intense burst of energy when you go looking for the animals and then the rest of the day to take in the incredible surroundings you find yourself in at your leisure.

Speaking of leisure, Club Med have also launched a campaign around the 'Art of Free Time'. This movement celebrates the freedom to experience a holiday on your own terms, whether that means filling the day with adventure and discovery, doing absolutely nothing, or finding joy somewhere in between. Its something that we yearn for when living our daily lives and yet forget to make time for when travelling.

I found that the combined beach and safari experience gave me a chance to do a bit of everything I wanted whilst away from my day job. The fresh sea air and calming wilderness of remote nature work so well together that I'm surprised we don't see more of it.

You can plan your Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari online, although bookings for the safari must be done over the phone.