CLIMB ANGOLA
FESTIVAL
July 24 - August 3, 2026 · Serra da Leba
Climb Angola Festival Ticket
$400 USD · 10 nights · July 24-August 3
Fully Catered
3rd Edition
An amazing 10 days of climbing, highlining, route development and camping in Serra da Leba, Angola. The festival will feature a bolting workshop, film screenings, live music, cultural events, and more. From July 24 to August 3, 2026.
The event takes place on the cliffs of Serra da Leba, a stunning location on the edge of the Huila plateau overlooking the Namib desert plains. With over 100+ routes of all grades, the festival is open to climbers of all levels, and we're excited to welcome climbers from around the world.
Getting There
Traveling to Angola
You can fly to Luanda and take a domestic flight to Lubango. The other option is to fly to
Windhoek and take a shuttle to the Angolan border. Driving from South Africa and Namibia
is feasible as well.
Buses from Namibia/South Africa travel as far as the border with Angola. We'll have a shuttle
departing from the border on the morning of Friday, July 24th to take you directly to Serra
da Leba.
Visas
Many nationalities can travel in Angola without a visa for up to 30 days. If you plan to
stay longer than 30 days, you need an e-visa, available online here: smevisa.gov.ao.
Contact us if you need help with your visa application or have any questions about the visa
process.
Money
The currency in Angola is the Kwanza. Bring cash. Large, new bills like $100 US dollars or
€100 euros get the best exchange rates. Visa and European bank cards work at some ATMs in
Angola but not at most stores or restaurants. Mastercard, American and many other
non-European cards do not work.
There are ATMs in Lubango, but not in Serra da Leba. We recommend bringing a bit of cash for
drinks, snacks, local crafts, etc.
Guidebook
The 3rd edition of the Climb Angola guidebook has all of the routes listed for Serra da Leba and is available as a pay-what-you-want download. The guidebook includes detailed topos, approach information, and everything you need to plan your climbing.
Download Guidebook
"The more we explore the place, the more we're amazed by the beautiful walls"
— Nicolas Favresse
Health & Safety
Yellow fever vaccination is required on entering Angola, except for travelers coming from low-risk countries, including Europe and the US. In any case, the vaccine is strongly recommended. Malaria is present in Angola, but low-risk at the high altitude in Serra da Leba during the dry season, when the festival is held.
We also strongly recommend carrying international medical insurance as the health care system in Angola is not reliable and a medevac is likely in the case of a serious injury.
Camping
This year, we have two campgrounds available for choosing. Both are in the same stunning location, right on the edge of the cliffs.
The fully catered campground has running water, hot showers, bathrooms and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Climb Angola Festival Ticket
$400 USD · 10 nights · July 24-August 3
Fully Catered
The wild camping option is available for people who wish to cook for themselves.
Climb Angola Festival Ticket
$100 USD · 10 nights · July 24-August 3
Wild Camping
Either way, you'll need to bring a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. There are a few tents available for rent — add one tent per couple to your cart alongside the festival ticket.
Tent Rental
$50 USD · 10 nights · July 24-August 3
Weather and Conditions
July is the middle of the dry/winter season in Angola and the nights are quite cold, so we recommend bringing a good sleeping bag as well as a warm jacket.
The afternoons are hot and the sun is strong so bring sun protection, like a light long-sleeve sun shirt, wide-brim hat and sunscreen. In the gorge (see the guidebook), it's possible to climb in the shade all day long. There's usually a breeze in the afternoons and evenings, some nights can be windy.
What to Bring
We recommend bringing a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. A headlamp is also recommended. We will have a charging station available with power from a generator.
Bring your climbing gear, including a helmet, harness, rope, quickdraws and a belay device. A 70m rope is recommended, as many of the routes are long and/or multipitch. A trad rack is also a great idea. See route development information below as well.
Route Development
If you plan to bolt, bring a drill, drill bits, and as many bolts as you can spare. We have static ropes, hammers and other heavy equipment available for use.
Stainless steel 316 bolts are recommended although 304 will be allowed too. Zinc-plated will not be allowed due to the wet rainy season.
We'll have a bolting workshop on the second day of the festival. We will also have some bolts available for route development.
Volunteering & Discounts
New Climbers
This is a great opportunity for new climbers to get started. Volunteers will be available
to help new climbers get started with the basics of climbing.
We will run organized beginner's clinics during both weekends of the festival.
Volunteers
Please get in touch if you're interested in volunteering at the festival. We're looking
for volunteers to help with the festival, including camp cleanup, organization and event
coordination.
The festival ticket price will be waived for volunteers.
African Climbers
To make the festival more accessible to Angolan and the broader African climbing community, we are offering a discounted ticket price for climbers from countries in Africa.
Use code AFRICA at checkout to get 25% off the festival ticket.
Climb Angola Road Trip
After the festival, join the road trip from Serra da Leba to Cumbira II for five more days of climbing and exploring Angola, ending in Luanda on Friday, August 7th.
Climb Angola Road Trip
$240 USD · 4 nights · August 3-7, 2026
Lodging & Transportation Included