Baia Sonambula
The “Baia” Story
A Lush Guest House in the Heart of Tofo, Mozambique
Whether it is to watch Humpback Whales from your private deck, take a romantic break or that ultimate dive holiday, we ensure that your comfort is our priority.
Each room conveys the subtle, yet the beautiful boutique appeal of French-inspired guesthouses. Think fresh flowers, cool stone floors, crisp white linen, cosy reading room, whitewashed walls, double showers, and large bay windows offer endless sea views.
Luxurious king-sized beds with carved wooden and rattan furniture overflow with plump batik print cushions. Large 50’s inspired ceiling fans are a beautiful element within the spacious bedrooms, laced with French accents and European bathroom fixtures.
A stay in the Honeymoon suite or bungalow rooms extends elegance outdoors onto a private wooden deck that views the essence of Tofo Beach, from the ocean sunrise each morning to the colourful star-studded skyline each night.
Lush gardens surround a peaceful wooden sundeck covered with a linen awning. A central kitchen where our daily baked goods waft aromas endlessly. Baia Sonambula ultimate beach haven, transplanting the revived historic property back on the Southern African Beach map, right where it should be.
Dive centres, bars and restaurants are all walking distance from our doorstep.
Portuguese Heritage
When French hoteliers, Emeric and Christophe, first glimpsed the rare sprawling Portuguese-styled beach house shouldering the stunning sandy shores of Tofo’s crystal sea waters he knew it had to be his next boutique guesthouse venue. Joining forces with a small team of local Mozambican craftsmen the venture would bring a fallen Tofo Beach landmark upright and back to life.
Thanks to the timeless skills of local tradesmen much of the original Portuguese structures have been preserved, but the renovation also provided an opportunity to integrate a bygone Mozambican / Portuguese beach era with tones of a French-themed escape.
Sleeping Beach
Open since 2008, and nestled unassumingly behind Tofo Beach. Whitewashed stone walls and thatched roofs with flowering bougainvillaea lapping over its edges. Baia Sonambula (“Sleeping Beach”) offers an understated stylish beach hideaway at a standard unparalleled in the rustic beach village.
With six rooms, relaxation, privacy, and comfort are our priority. This is a place to feel at home.
After a night rested on thick Egyptian cotton sheets and waking to the sound of rolling waves a mere 30 metres away, ease your way into the day with a delectable, homemade breakfast feast.
Enjoy our homemade creamy yoghurt, endless combinations of delicious fruit jams, freshly-baked muffins, pastries and granola. Mozambican rich coffee, local tropical fruits and nuts are a mere sniff of the breakfast that awaits you each day on the wooden roofed terrace overlooking the Tofo Bay.
Slip into a day bed or hammock with a fresh mint and ginger iced tea or perhaps a gin and tonic from our well-stocked honesty bar and find out what an authentic beach break is all about.
Or, if it is the culture you seek, take a short 150-metre stroll to the friendly local market brimming with unique produce and step into the real Mozambique. With a maximum of 10 guests staying at any time, Baia Sonambula will always feel like your own private retreat.
Sea View Bungalow 4
The new bungalow 4 is our most special accommodation and a labour of love. The openness of the structure and quiet beauty of the design provides total comfort and privacy.
It will charm you with its clever simplicity and thrill you with its little surprises.
These surprises come in many forms: A luxurious open bathroom where you can be surrounded by the tropics and African skies, a quirky infinity dipping pool – perfect for a cocktail, the light and airy bedroom that, with the use of sliding doors, can ingeniously transport you into nature or keep you cosy within, and perhaps best of all, the most spectacular view of Praia do Tofo.
Overview
- Bed: King size bed / 2 single beds with a suspended net.
- Occupancy: 2 adults or 2 adults. (no extra bed for a child)
- Location: 20m from the beach.
- View: Clear and direct view of the ocean.
- Size: 70 sqm (50 sqm of room + 20 sqm of private terrace)
- Internet: Starlink internet access with a mobile hotspot backup.
- 3 Cooling Fans: 2 ceiling fans & 1 wall fan installed inside the net.
Sea View Bungalow 2 & 3
Ever wanted to wake up to not only the sound of the sea but a vision of it? If so, then Bungalow Two and its twin, Bungalow Three, are for you.
No need to even raise your head off the Egyptian cotton covered pillows, these rooms give a new meaning to the term “sea view.“ Slide back your double glass doors and fill your lungs with the taste of the Indian Ocean rumbling a tennis ball throw away. Ideal for couples, it offers a king-size bed (which can also be split into two single beds) dressed with the best Egyptian cotton in the market (300 threads), a large metal ceiling fan, spacious en-suite bathroom made of local timber and filled with natural body products and fluffy towels and a big, private veranda to soak in more of that incredible sea-view. Whether it is sliding from the spacious bed to your baldacchino bed on your verandah, while pondering a dip in the sea or dinner option, these rooms have relaxation stamped all over them.
Overview
- Bed: King size bed / 2 single beds
- Occupancy: 2 adults or 2 adults + 1 child
- Location: 50m from the beach
- View: Good view of the sea from the veranda
- Size: 40 sqm
- Others: Safety box, mosquito spray, beach towels and umbrella.
- Internet: Starlink internet access with a mobile hotspot backup.
- 3 Cooling Fans: 2 ceiling fans & 1 wall fan installed inside the net.
Sea View Bungalow 1
Bungalow 1 sitting slightly apart from the main building, spacious Bungalow One provides that intimate privacy ideal for a romantic getaway.
Enjoy a king-size bed (or split the bed into two singles) made up with luscious Egyptian cotton sheets (300 threads), while a large antique ceiling fan quietly pushes air around your 25 square meters of space.
Refresh in your spacious stone and wooden en suite bathroom, be inspired to write by your ornate wooden writing desk or simply lay back in the cushions on your baldacchino bed on your large private verandah and sip a sunset cocktail and count the waves crashing below.
Overview
- Bed: King size bed/2 single beds.
- Occupancy: 1 or 2 adults. (no extra bed for a child)
- Location: 50m from the beach.
- View: Good view of the sea from the veranda.
- Size: 40 sqm
- Others: Safety box, mosquito spray, beach towels and umbrella.
- Internet: Starlink internet access with a mobile hotspot backup.
Garden Room 6
It is through the large glass windows of Garden Room Four and its twin, Garden Room 6, where you begin to appreciate the lush tropical garden Baia Sonambula sits in. Bright and airy these two spacious rooms in the main house are an oasis of tranquility and perfect for those on a tighter budget. Wake up to the aroma of baked goods cooked with love by our smiling staff in the communal kitchen, or stroll out onto the nearby roof terrace for breakfast in these centrally located stunning rooms.
Enjoy a king-size bed dressed with the best Egyptian cotton bed sheets we could find; a spacious elevated ensuite bathroom, or ponder a travel story at the ornate writing desk. Both rooms are perfect for a couple, or, in case you need, there is still enough space for two twin beds.
Overview
- Bed: King size bed /2 single beds.
- Occupancy: 2 adults. (no extra bed for child)
- Location: 30m from the beach.
- View: Garden view.
- Size: 25 sqm
- Others: Safety box, mosquito spray, hairdryer, beach-towels and umbrella.
- Internet: Starlink internet access with a mobile hotspot backup.
Standard room 5
It is through the large glass windows of Garden Room Four and its twin, Garden Room 6, where you begin to appreciate the lush tropical garden Baia Sonambula sits in. Bright and airy these two spacious rooms in the main house are an oasis of tranquility and perfect for those on a tighter budget. Wake up to the aroma of baked goods cooked with love by our smiling staff in the communal kitchen, or stroll out onto the nearby roof terrace for breakfast in these centrally located stunning rooms.
Enjoy a king-size bed dressed with the best Egyptian cotton bed sheets we could find; a spacious elevated ensuite bathroom, or ponder a travel story at the ornate writing desk. Both rooms are perfect for a couple, or, in case you need, there is still enough space for two twin beds.
Overview
- Bed: King size bed /2 single beds.
- Occupancy: 2 adults. (no extra bed for child)
- Location: 30m from the beach.
- View: Garden view.
- Size: 25 sqm
- Others: Safety box, mosquito spray, hairdryer, beach-towels and umbrella.
- Internet: Starlink internet access with a mobile hotspot backup.
Team Members
Franzisko
started as a gardener, it’s thanks to his amazing knowledge about plants that Baia Sonambula is surrounded by a tropical garden. After sorting out the garden and passing his secrets to Gerome, he now sits in the office and helps Gian and Steffi with the daily running operation.
Ernesto
is an institution. His grey hair and warm smile it’s probably the most welcoming thing at Baia Sonambula. You will see him around, helping everyone from the garden to the kitchen. To communicate with him you will need to learn the local dialect “Bitonga”.sis.
Jersey
you probably won’t see her while you stay at Baia. She is up in the Staff area doing the laundry, ironing and folding. Thanks to Jersey and our filtration system we are able to provide our clients with fresh, crispy and spotless white cotton beddings. It’s something that we take extreme proud in providing you with white beddings. Combine this, with the sound of crashing waves, should be enough to give you the perfect sleep that you need.
Lucia
is quiet and shy and she manages to hide her English skills very well. She is in charge of the cleaning and has been working with us since the beginning of our story.
Jerome
Jerome doesn’t speak much. He walks quietly around the guesthouse checking on every single plant we have. He learnt the secrets from Franzisko and now is becoming an excellent gardener himself. Together with his father Ernesto, they are now in charge of our garden and as you hopefully will notice, they are doing a great job.
Narciso
has the kind of genuine and warm smile that everybody needs in the morning while having a cup of coffee. He is in charge of our Breakfast and thanks to his English skills, he’s always up for a chat.
Julinha
is very shy, but give her a good team of people to work with and you can hear her singing and talking the local language Bitonga. Together with her sister Lucia she is responsible for the room service that they both do with one of the warmest, honest and sweet smile you can possibly think of.
Lorenzo
is our handy man. There is no jobs that Lorenzo can’t do. He is a good carpenter as well as a good plumber and much more. Most of the things at Baia carry his trademarks.
Messias
if you land at Inhambane airport, Messias will be there to greet you and welcome you to Mozambique with a friendly smile. His English is excellent and so must be his patience since he is the one that take care of all our paper work.
Gloria
is the latest addition to our team. She is not new to the Baia’s family as she came by every day with a basket of fresh fruit balanced over her head. You will see her helping out Lucia and Julinha with the rooms or Jersey with the laundry.
Stefanie
will be your first contact with Baia Sonambula through emails. You won’t see it through the screen of a computer but she has a beautiful smile. She daily tries to bring her Swiss efficiency to Baia, organising your transfer and rooms, and more generally she keeps an eye on everything.
Gianluca
is the one in charge of making things work, which in Mozambique, can be a real challenge. He really loves having guests around him and being Italian means he likes to share a cup of coffee and some stories with all our guests.
Emeric
if you are lucky enough to see him around Baia, he will most certainly not be wearing a shirt. He is at the heart of Baia, bringing with him a Tsunami of good ideas and a keen eye for details.
