✨How did it start?🏝️ One evening on Mafia Island, Tanzania, Antonia and Hamisi met. On one of the first date, they decided to walk under the stars, surrounded by the gentle light of kimulimuli—fireflies in Kiswahili. For Antonia, they brought back memories of summers at her grandmother’s house in Dordogne, France, where fireflies once glowed softly in the dark. For Hamisi, they were a familiar symbol of harmony and nature’s beauty. They laughed and began dreaming about a project called Kimulimuli that could brighten lives and ease the societal pressures and challenges they were both facing. 🌟What does a firefly represent ? At twilight, these winged insects produce bioluminescence to attract their prey or mate. Their light can be yellow, green, or pale red—even the larvae, called glowworms, can glow. Fireflies eat very little, teaching us not to take more than we need and to waste nothing. They bring hope when everything feels dark and shine a light on new ideas. As fireflies are extremely sensitive to pesticides, their presence is a sign of a healthy environment.🌴 ✌️The values of the project 🫂 With the wish to preserve such beauty and inspired by these magical creatures, Antonia and Hamisi created Kimulimuli to share a message of peace, true respect for nature, and love that transcends boundaries of race, gender, and class. Like fireflies, Kimulimuli reminds us that even the smallest light can shine brightly in the darkness and guide us toward a better, more harmonious world.

Bungalow Mawimbi — named after the “waves” you’ll hear kissing the shore — is a self-sustained, eco-powered retreat built with local materials for an reel Swahili experience. Here, the sea is your swimming pool. We’re also creating a solidarity café, serving local & organic dishes. On site, our small, free anti-racism&sexism exhibition adds a touch of culture and fun. We also organise unique adventures in the island. At Kimulimuli we blend culture, sustainability, and seaside serenity.

Our neighborhood is very peaceful. Fishers close by near the beach (our swimming pool) are great friends and will great you with a big smile.