In Bitonga, “mafu” is earth.

Imagine.

Mafu Haus was imagined as something deeper. Less enterprise. More artisan.

Crafted spaces, easing into the beauty of wilderness. Slow food. The simple pleasures of old school games.

It feels like an open home. A stage for play, a forest-farm, a garden of celebration. Balance.

Here you can touch the magic of living in harmony with nature.

Our current spaces

(new spaces coming during 2024)

Games.

Get onto our games court for bocce or badminton. Or unpack a deck of cards, throw darts, play the guitar. Games are there for you all hours to play the old-school way.
The Bay.

Look into the bay and you will find coconut islands and delicate sea feathers, dug-out canoes and dancing seahorses, roaming flamingoes and shell fisherwomen. It is a tidal mystical place on our doorstep.
Roof terraces.

High on 360° views. Our roof terraces let you lean into the surreal for sunset drinks, star-gazing, moonlight mini-cinema and sunrise yoga.
Gardens.

Running wild, our gardens are a refuge for people and nature...walk the paths, find a bench and keep an eye out for the lilac-breasted roller.
(nano) Amphitheatre.

Nothing like a good story. Here you can tell your own, listen to a local traditional story-teller or enjoy an intimate music session.
Mangrove lookout.

Watch the ebb and flow of tides, people, dhows and dugout canoes. It is a perfect intimate spot for sunset or a snooze.

Sustainability.

Re-wilding.

In our nursery we are cultivating indigenous trees, shrubs and flowers to improve biodiversity and climate resilience. Since 2013 we have planted over 1,000 trees, including baobabs, chamfutas and masalas. Every year we add more.
Building it.

Mafu is built of rammed earth, consisting of 95% soil and 5% cement - it has a long life cycle (possibly centuries). The structures are low on energy consumption for cooling and resistant to hurricanes.
Energy, water, waste.

Here, the suns powers all of our electricity and hot water. Filtered borehole drinking water is served in glass (no plastic bottles). Organic waste is composted to fertilise our nursery. Metal, glass and plastic is sent to the recycling centre in Tofo, run by the association ALMA.

Meet the Team

Laura

Flow Master
A quietly confident doer, Laura is a capable masseuse, chef, and co-team leader. She also keeps our rooms looking bright and is always ready to learn something new.
Seven

Team Leader
Deeply talented with all things wood and a capable draftsman, Seven is a gentle, practical co-team leader. His wise hands made all of the furniture, windows, and doors on the property.
Gildo

Chief Smiler
Gildo is the man for laughter. He handles guest relations, loves to bake cakes and makes all of our coctails. Speak to Gildo for tips on local cultural experiences.
Joao

Moon Master
While on night duty, you may see Joao in the gardens watering our younger trees. He has the deepest knowledge of our local flora and fauna.
Eoin

Founder
After 15 years in the public sector, Eoin reconnected with the elements in the waves, land and people of Tofo. Born in Ireland, he shapes our spaces and rhythms.
Andrea Viêntëc

Creative Director
Andrea is developing our creative residency program to connect European hands and minds in ground-breaking collaborations with Mozambican talent, traditions, and emerging practices.