The third edition of the Climb Angola Festival is coming up fast, with climbers from Angola, Southern Africa and further abroad gathering at Serra da Leba from 24 July to 3 August 2026 for ten days of climbing, highlining, route development, camping and community.
Set on the edge of the Huíla Plateau above the Namib desert plains, Serra da Leba has quickly become one of Southern Africa’s most exciting emerging climbing destinations. The area now has more than 100 routes across a wide range of grades, with sport, trad and multi-pitch climbing on the orange and red quartzite sandstone walls above the canyon. For those who made the trip in 2024 or 2025, the festival has already become something more than a climbing holiday — it is a meeting point for climbers, route developers, local communities and anyone curious about Angola’s growing adventure tourism scene.
This year’s festival will include climbing, highlining, a bolting workshop, route development, film screenings, live music, cultural events and plenty of time around camp. The event is open to climbers of all levels, from experienced developers looking for new lines to newer climbers who want to experience one of the region’s most unusual and beautiful crags. Organised beginner clinics will run during both weekends, and volunteers will be available to help new climbers get started safely.
For South African and Namibian climbers, Angola is no longer as far away as it once seemed. Travellers can fly into Luanda and connect to Lubango, fly to Windhoek and continue north, or drive overland through Namibia.
The festival has two camping options this year. The fully catered campground includes meals, running water, hot showers and bathrooms, while a wild camping option is available for those who prefer to cook for themselves. Either way, climbers should bring a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. July is the dry winter season in Angola, with cold nights, hot sunny afternoons and generally good climbing conditions.
Route development remains a big part of the festival. Climbers who want to bolt are encouraged to bring drills, drill bits and any spare stainless steel hardware. A bolting workshop will take place early in the festival, and Climb Angola will have some route development equipment available on site.
As in previous years, the festival is also about growing climbing in Angola in a way that benefits local communities. Climb Angola has worked with local partners, climbers and volunteers to develop routes, support local youth, train emergency services, clean up Serra da Leba and build a stronger base for sustainable adventure tourism in the country. The first two editions brought together climbers from around the world, introduced hundreds of Angolans to climbing and highlining, and helped put Serra da Leba firmly on the map.
After the main festival, there will also be a Climb Angola Road Trip from Serra da Leba to Cumbira II, finishing in Luanda on 7 August. Cumbira II is one of Angola’s most striking granite climbing areas, surrounded by huge domes and a growing local climbing community.
Tickets are still available, including fully catered and wild camping options, with a discount available for African climbers.
If Angola has been on your climbing radar, this is the year to make the trip. Serra da Leba is still raw, adventurous and developing quickly — exactly the kind of place where a festival can feel like the beginning of something much bigger.
Event: Climb Angola Festival 2026
Dates: 24 July – 3 August 2026
Location: Serra da Leba, Huíla, Angola
