Butterfly Apartment is a cosy ground-floor self-catering holiday rental occupying its own wing of Ella's Swahili House — the restored 1840s villa in the heart of Bagamoyo Old Town. With its own private entrance, two comfortable bedrooms, a practical kitchenette, and a shaded garden terrace, Butterfly is the most affordable way to stay inside one of Tanzania's most historically significant heritage buildings.
Designed for couples, solo travellers, and small families who want authentic Swahili character at a budget-friendly rate, the apartment combines the thick coral rag walls and carved detailing of a 19th-century coastal residence with the modern essentials WiFi, a kitchenette, and private outdoor space — that make a holiday or extended stay genuinely comfortable. The garden terrace, shaded by mature tropical plants, is the standout feature: the perfect spot for outdoor dining, morning coffee, or reading in the quiet of the compound. Butterfly Apartment can also be booked together with Kingfisher Apartment on the first floor above, giving a larger group access to both levels of the villa with separate entrances and shared garden space.