In Guitonga, “mafu” is earth.

 

 

Imagine.

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

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

It feels like wild chic silk. The great outdoors as luxury. 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

  • Petanque court with metallic balls arranged on the ground, surrounded by a brick border and some plants along the edges.

    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.

  • Two people walking on wet sand at a beach or tidal flat during daytime, with reflections of the sky and clouds on the surface, and another person farther away exploring the area.

    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.

  • People socializing on a rooftop patio overlooking the ocean at sunset, with palm trees and a partly cloudy sky.

    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.

  • Aerial view of a dry, rocky landscape with sparse green trees and dirt paths crossing each other.

    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.

  • Concrete amphitheater seating with curved steps in an outdoor area, surrounded by plants and trees, under a blue sky.

    (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.

  • A coastal landscape with a clear blue sky, a calm ocean in the background, and a mix of palm trees, grassy plains, and small bodies of water in the foreground.

    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.

  • A man in blue overalls planting or holding a small tree in a tropical outdoor setting with palm trees and clear blue sky.

    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.

  • Three people working on a large white structure made of stacked pipes, outdoors with a blue sky and some clouds.

    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.

  • A person wearing a straw hat, blue shirt, and beige shorts installing or maintaining a solar panel outdoors in a dry, grassy area with palm trees and a partly cloudy sky.

    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

  • A smiling woman with braided hair, wearing a light-colored top, outside in a natural setting.

    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.

  • A smiling man standing outdoors near a beach with palm trees in the background.

    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.

  • A man smiling outdoors with palm trees and a landscape in the background, in black and white.

    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.

  • Black man with short hair, missing two front teeth, smiling, outdoors in a natural setting.

    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.

  • Black and white photo of smiling man with a beard and shaved head, wearing a dark shirt, outdoors with trees in the background.

    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.

  • Close-up black and white photograph of a woman with dark hair and intense eyes, looking directly at the camera. She has a headscarf wrapped around her hair and is adjusting it with her hand.

    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.

 

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“The flowers fall from the tree to prepare the land for the blossoms of the next season”

- Samora Machel, in memory of Josina Muthemba Machel -