Utupoa Upepo

A Tower on the Beach Just for You

Utupoa Upepo

A Tower on the Beach just for you.

The Beach Tower

Utupoa Upepo

We designed and built UtupoaUpepo, our beach tower, as a song of praise for the local ngalawa sailing culture. You sleep on its top floor, cradled from and by a sea breeze, as close to Matemwe’s dazzling beach high-water mark as you could ever hope to be. In Swahili, upepo is the nautical term for ‘wind’, the word ngalawa sailors habitually use for their point of sail: to sail against the wind, for example, is kupinga upepo. But if you search an English-Swahili Dictionary, you will also see that pepo means ‘paradise’.

We also designed UtupoaUpepo with romance in the air and we wanted to give two people the private, exclusive and secure space of a tower, situated as close as possible to the sea, with three floors, where all of the space is yours and yours alone.

 

Climb the sand-coloured staircase as though you are going up for air and then, before you on the tower’s middle level, a resting place with its own bar and music system, open to the breeze and in greens for the most part, here it is: Matemwe’s glorious beach panorama.

And so to the eyrie, the lovers’ nest. Up the staircase as you climb, feel mangrove polished hard by mud and salt, until you reach the warm, red cocoon which is your en suite bedroom on the top floor. The bed itself is pure ngalawa, carved out of a mango tree and bearing still the swells and scars of its recent history. The boat’s prow provides stowage and the two outriggers make a frame for the window which is all upepo and a view which, as you lie in bed, will surely take your breath away.

 

Utupoa Upepo

Utupoa Upepo, our beach tower, is designed as a song of praise for the local ngalawa sailing culture. You sleep on its top floor, cradled from and by a sea breeze, as close to Matemwe’s dazzling beach high water mark as you could ever hope to be.

$160 / night

for 2 Guests (including breakfast)

"This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whomever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."

~Rumi

"Utupoa is not only an extraordinary place of beauty and hospitality, but also a bit of an utopian society. That's because of Joyce's amazing ability to make everybody feel welcome and part of the Utupoa family. In the moment we arrived we felt the beautiful and peculiar vibe of the place - it was like arriving at a group of friends who would immediately accept you. Besides Joyce there is the great staff, everybody warm and welcoming. Five stars plus."

Fabian, Airbnb

"Just an amazing and adorable place. It‘s a place full of love and kindness ... just like Home away from Home 😉 Tim and Joyce created a little paradise and also the Food is so delicious. Thank you for everything !! We will miss you !!"

Claudia, Airbnb

"A stunning place with a very beautiful African-style interior and his own history. Perhaps the most beautiful house that we saw on our trip around the island. Lots of thanks to Joyce for such warmth and comfort. In this house you will really feel at home."

Julie, Airbnb

Contact us

Bookings / Enquiries

To enquire or book directly without fees, please email us below.

Please note, we accept payment in cash, card, or via online transaction. There is an ATM in Kiwengwa (15 minutes drive away).

For bookings, please click the button below or email us at [email protected]