BAIA SONAMBULA
Whether it is to watch the 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 lavish boutique appeal of French inspired guesthouses. Think fresh flowers, smooth stone floors cool underfoot, crisp white linen, cozy reading room, white washed walls, large double showers, slabs of wooden furniture and large bay windows proffering endless sea views. Lavish king-sized beds and carved wooden and rattan furniture overflowing with plump batik print cushions with large 50’s style overhead ceiling fans are the main focus of the spacious bedrooms, laced with French accents and European bathroom appointments. 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 and peaceful wooden sundecks with linen awnings and a central kitchen where baked good aromas waft endlessly, round out Baia Sonambula ultimate beach haven, transplanting the revived historic property back on the Southern African Beach map, right where it should be.
Dive centers, bar, restaurants are all at walking distance, about 150 metres 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 Mozambiquian 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 Mozambiquian/Portuguese beach era with tones of a French-themed escape.
SLEEPING BEACH
Open since 2008, and nestled unassumedly behind Tofo Beach and white washed stone and thatch walls with flowering bougainvillea lapping over its edges, Baia Sonambula (“Sleeping Beach”) offers an understated stylish beach hideaway at a standard unparalleled in the rustic beach village. With just five 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 lapping at the sand just 30 metres below your room, ease your way into the day with a delectable, all homemade, breakfast feast. Homemade creamy yoghurt, endless combinations of delightful homemade fruit jams (cinnamon and mango if you please!), freshly baked muffins and pastries, granola sumptuous Mozambican rich coffee and local tropical fruits and nuts a mere sniff of the breakfast that awaits you each day on the wooden roof terrace overlooking 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 a true beach break is all about. Or, if it is 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.
Meet the team
Franzisko
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 comunicate with him you will need to learn the local dialect “Bitonga”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gerome
Gerome 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
Julinha
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 of the room service that they both do with one of the warmest, honest and sweet smile you can possibly think of.
Giulio
Giulio came to help us building our new bungalow in 2015. Back then he shovelling gravel and getting his hands dirty with cement. What didn’t go unnoticed was his amazing willingness to work and to do a good job. So when we finally open our new bungalow we were in need of a new worker to help Lidia and Lucia, both in the kitchen and in the rooms. He jumped straight in and he is now an amazing cleaner and a soon to be chef!!!
Lidia
Lidia has one of the most challenging job here at Baia. She is charge of the kitchen. She bakes and cooks the all day and thanks to her you will be able to enjoy some of the most tasty brownies you’ve ever had. Her “portfolio” includes: carrot cake, coffee cake, chocolate-orange muffin, quiche and mini pizza, samosas and rosti… just to name a few! Sit down on our terrace and enjoy her food!
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.
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
Gian
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 idea and a very good eye for details.