I spent many hours in the courtyard garden as a guest at Palmeira’s Guest House. It was fragrant with frangipani, glowing with red bougainvillea and the only place where I could get Wi-Fi.

This family-run guest house has just the right mix of home comfort and professional management, a top-notch lodging that caters mostly to tourists on Patrice Lumumba in Maputo.

My room had two twin beds with white linens and soft pillows, making for a great night’s sleep. Everything worked in the bedroom and bathroom, the temperature was perfect and the place was very clean.

The owners were out of town during my stay but one of their four children, Amilcar Ferreira, had things under control.

Amilcar works as an auditor consultant for Deloitte, but he also helps with reservations at the family business, monitoring rooms and making sure everybody is satisfied.

The guest house opened in 2002 and there weren’t a lot of guests the first year. “We had to learn about the market and how to interact with guests,” Amilcar said.

The first guest was a French woman who stayed for six months.

“Guests should feel like they’re at home,” Amilcar said.

The guest house is named for the palmeira or palm tree growing in the front garden.

There are six guest rooms, but like so many Maputo hotels and guest houses, this one will soon undergo expansion to 10 or 12 rooms.

“Business is good,” Amilcar said. “Now that Mozambique has discovered natural resources, hotels are booked year round.”

The family lives in separate quarters adjacent to the guest house.

Most clients are tourists from Europe and the Americas, and they’re often on their way to the Northern Mozambique beaches.

Palmeira Guest House gets families, couples who don’t want to stay in a big hotel, and occasionally, backpackers. On Avenida Patrice Lumbumba, there are other lodgings popular with backpackers including one named The Base.

It’s rare to find a vacancy at Palmeira’s, Amilcar told me. There may be only a day or two each month when two or three rooms are available, and it’s obvious why. The service is excellent, the accommodations, quiet and clean, and the ambiance, very pleasing.

The entrance to Palmeira’s is guarded and secure. The reception and common areas are full of wood sculptures, batiks and local art to remind you that you are at home in Africa.

I loved the guest house’s “honesty bar,” which encouraged guests to buy chocolates, beer and snacks on the honor system.

Palmeira’s excellent breakfast is something guests love. It’s is served in a separate room in the garden probably converted from a garage.

Here are some comments from the guest log book:

Switzerland: “Very cozy house, beautiful garden, charming and extremely helpful staff.”
Canada: Highly recommended. Peaceful oasis.”
Sweden: “Very clean. Tasty breakfast.”
South Africa: “Breakfast is the stuff of legends.”
And this: “I always stay here. Sixth time.”