Serra da Leba, Angola, hosted the third annual Climb Angola Festival this July. This year’s festival was the largest yet, welcoming more than 75 participants from around the world, alongside the beginnings of a thriving local climbing community.
Climb Angola began in 2024 with a mission to unlock Angola’s rock-climbing potential, create sustainable adventure tourism that provides a reliable income for remote communities, and grow a national community of climbers. An international festival was always central to these objectives, and having doubled the number of participants since its first year, the event has already proven to be a great success.
The festival attracts climbers of all abilities, from complete beginners to well-established professionals. However, much of its appeal lies in the opportunity to help grow something: establishing new routes and achieving first ascents in what is quickly becoming a dream destination for international climbers.
With more than 3 km of world-class quartzite sandstone and faces reaching 600 metres, it truly is a climber’s paradise. In February 2024, the area had only two trad routes. Following the addition of 30 new routes during this year’s festival, it now boasts more than 150 sport routes, with the potential for over 1,000 more. From 4c to 8c, there is something for climbers of every ability and style.
Alongside a strong international turnout, this year’s festival saw the return of Angola’s only youth climbing team. Founded in partnership with Climbing for a Reason, this group of young climbers travelled 12 hours south from their remote village in Kwanza Sul to participate. Their contribution continues to be a highlight of the festival each year, with participants enjoying the opportunity to climb with and teach the team throughout the ten-day event.
The festival also opens its doors to around 200 local people wishing to try climbing for the first time. Each day, its team of volunteers takes groups out for their first climbing experience.
Another important role of the festival is working with and training local emergency services, including paramedics, firefighters and police officers, in rope-access rescue and first aid. Delivering this training has been a key objective since the festival’s inception.
This year also saw the continuation of Climb Angola’s partnership with EcoAngola, a national environmental non-profit. Volunteers from both organisations came together for a large-scale litter pick across the spectacular natural areas surrounding the festival site.
New partnerships were also formed, with Angola’s national airline, TAAG, showing its support as the official travel sponsor of this year’s festival.
Beyond its climbing, community and environmental work, there was plenty more on offer at this year’s festival, including highlining, cliff jumping, guided stargazing, film nights, a tour of local sights, and plenty of evenings around the fire with local music and dancing.
Despite some unforeseen challenges, including a national telecommunications cyberattack and fuel shortages, this year’s festival once again proved to be a terrific success. This is still only the beginning, with plenty more already planned for 2027.
To follow the journey or become part of it in the future, follow us at @climbangola or visit climbangola.com for news and information, including the updated guidebook.
