For the climbers who visit Malawi, it’s not just about the abundance of cliffs waiting for first ascents — it’s about building community in one of the world’s poorest countries.
There’s no doubt that Malawi has nearly endless potential for climbing. Its abundant granite domes, cliffs, and boulders make it a world-class destination for all kinds of rockhounds. Longer routes range from 300 feet to an incredible 5,600 feet.
Malawi also has a surprisingly long history of climbing. The longest rock climb on the continent was established here in 1978, and someone made a guidebook in the ’80s using a typewriter.
Yet few people come here to climb.
With over half its population living in poverty, Malawi lacks much of the infrastructure of other climbing locales. That makes it more difficult to quickly turn Malawi into a climbing destination like Greece’s Kalymnos, which has exploded in popularity since the mid-’90s.
But a combination of Western climbers, stoked Malawians, and an international nonprofit want to try.
“You can make an analogy to Red River Gorge in the 90s or Yosemite in the 50s and 60s,” said Tyler Algeo, who founded the country’s first donation-based climbing gym. “There’s this super exciting time here, an ocean of rock, and an incredibly excited community … It’s a really excellent and unparalleled opportunity to do something different.”

Climber Builds a Life in Malawi
When Canadian climber and engineer Tyler Algeo arrived in Malawi in 2018 with his wife, they quickly made a new life for themselves.
The couple had long desired to live in a foreign country, especially in Africa, and fell in love with Malawi. Known as the “warm heart of Africa,” it’s a country famous for its friendly people.
But there’s not much to do there. The country lacks even a movie theater. Moreover, there are few places where foreign workers like Algeo could form relationships with Malawians.
That’s why the climbing wall in Algeo’s backyard quickly became a popular hang-out spot — for foreigners and locals alike. By the spring of 2019, dozens of people were coming to climb every Saturday, and Algeo’s landlord pulled the plug on festivities.
“I was seeing this potential for something greater,” Algeo said. “So we founded a local nonprofit and started raising money for a plot of land to build something bigger.”
That nonprofit became Climb Malawi, an outdoor climbing gym and outreach center near the nation’s capital.
Though climbing remains relatively new to most Malawians, they quickly embraced the sport, Algeo said. And the gym follows the Memphis Rox model, asking for a suggested donation instead of mandatory payment. As a result, both foreigners and locals come together for bouldering and community, Algeo said.
“Climbing is a relatively privileged sport, historically speaking. It’s dangerous, and it requires equipment that’s not super accessible,” he said. “But now we have a local climbing culture that you can be a part of and help grow. And that’s incredibly rewarding.”
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