What animals live in Egypt?

Egypt is famous for its deserts, and some remarkable creatures call those sandy, rocky places home. You can find camels, of course — they can go days without water and carry heavy loads across the Sahara. The fennec fox lives there too, with ears so large they help the little fox stay cool in the desert heat. Along the Nile River, things get much more lively. Nile crocodiles lurk in the water, and colorful birds like the hoopoe wade along the banks. Egypt is also home to several kinds of venomous snakes, including the Egyptian cobra — the same kind of snake that ancient Egyptians used as a royal symbol. God packed a lot of variety into that one country!

What do kids eat in Egypt?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Egypt often eat ful medames for breakfast — that's a thick stew made from fava beans, drizzled with olive oil and squeezed with lemon. It sounds simple, but it's hearty and filling, and Egyptian families have been eating it for thousands of years. For other meals, kids might enjoy koshari, which layers rice, lentils, and pasta all in one bowl, then tops it with spiced tomato sauce and crispy onions. Fresh flatbread called aish baladi comes with almost every meal — families tear off pieces and use it to scoop up their food. It's a warm, sharing kind of food culture, and mealtimes are usually a big family affair.

How do people say hello in Egypt?

In Egypt, the most common greeting is 'As-salamu alaykum,' which is Arabic for 'Peace be upon you.' The polite reply is 'Wa alaykum as-salam,' meaning 'And upon you peace.' Most Egyptians are Muslim, so this greeting is used all across the country, from busy Cairo markets to quiet Nile villages. Egypt's Christian minority — called Coptic Christians — have followed Jesus since the very early days of the church, going all the way back nearly 2,000 years. They use the same Arabic greeting too, but among themselves they sometimes say 'El-Masih qam!' meaning 'Christ is risen!' — with the joyful reply 'Haqqan qam!' meaning 'He is risen indeed!' That is one of the oldest Christian greetings in the world, and Egyptian believers still say it today.

What sports or games do kids play in Egypt?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Egypt are wild about football — what you might call soccer. It is the most popular sport by far, and you will find kids kicking a ball around in streets, empty lots, and schoolyards all across the country, from Cairo to the villages along the Nile. Rusty wants to add that Egyptian kids also enjoy a traditional game called Seega, which is a two-player strategy board game that has been played in Egypt for thousands of years — some people think it goes all the way back to ancient Egypt! Swimming in the Nile delta region and along the Mediterranean coast is popular too, and many kids enjoy tawla, which is the Egyptian name for backgammon. Games and play are a great way for missionaries and local Christians to build friendships and share the good news of Jesus.

What's the weather like in Egypt?

Egypt is mostly desert, so it is hot and dry for much of the year. In summer, temperatures in the Sahara can climb past 40°C (that's over 104°F) — hot enough to fry an egg on a rock! Most of Egypt gets very little rain, sometimes less than an inch per year. Along the Mediterranean coast in the north, cities like Alexandria get cooler breezes and a bit more rain in winter. The Nile River valley is more livable, which is why people have farmed and lived along its banks for thousands of years. God's design of that one great river running through such dry land has shaped Egyptian life since the days of the Bible.

Tell me a fun fact about Egypt.

Herman here — and Rusty is already pointing at the map! Egypt is home to the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was built around 2560 BC and stood as the tallest human-made structure on Earth for more than 3,800 years. That is a very long time to hold a record. Rusty wants to add this: the ancient Egyptians used over 2 million stone blocks to build that pyramid, and some blocks weigh as much as 80 tons — heavier than a dozen large elephants. Historians still debate exactly how workers moved them into place. Egypt also shows up all through the Bible, from Joseph being sold there as a slave, to Moses leading God's people out, to baby Jesus being taken there for safety. It is a land with a long, real connection to God's story.

What is school like for kids in Egypt?

Great question to dig into! In Egypt, most kids start school around age six, and classes can be very large — sometimes fifty or sixty students packed into one room. School is taught in Arabic, and children spend a lot of time memorizing lessons and preparing for big exams that decide their future. Many Egyptian kids also attend religious classes, since Egypt is mostly Muslim and Islam shapes a lot of daily life there. Some Christian children in Egypt, called Coptic Christians, go to churches that run their own schools. Millions of kids in Egypt have never heard that Jesus is the Savior who loves them — that is one big reason missionaries and local believers work hard to share that good news there.

Who are the unreached people in Egypt?

Egypt is home to millions of people, and most of them are Muslim — following a religion called Islam that does not teach that Jesus is the Savior. The largest unreached group is Arab Egyptians, who make up most of the country's population of around 100 million people. Most have never had a real conversation with someone who could explain what the Bible says about Jesus. There are also smaller groups like the Bedouin people, who live in desert regions like the Sinai Peninsula and have very little access to the gospel. Egypt actually has one of the oldest Christian communities in the world — called Coptic Christians — but they are a minority, and many Muslims in Egypt have laws and family pressures that make it very hard to even consider following Jesus. That is why missionaries and prayer are so important there.

How can I pray for the people of Egypt?

Egypt is a land with millions of people, and most of them are Muslim — meaning they have not yet heard or believed the good news about Jesus as the only Savior. You can pray that God opens hearts across Egypt so that people hear about Jesus and trust Him. That is one of the most powerful things you can do for Egypt, right from wherever you are sitting! There are also Christians in Egypt, called Coptic Christians, who have followed Jesus for a very long time — but they sometimes face danger and pressure just for believing. Pray that those believers stay strong and faithful, and that Egyptian church leaders rise up to boldly share the gospel with their neighbors. Ask God to protect missionaries working there, and to bring the Bible clearly into the hands and hearts of every family in Egypt.

What is a holiday or celebration in Egypt?

One of the biggest celebrations in Egypt is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan — a month when many Muslims fast from food and water during daylight hours. Streets fill with lights, families share big meals, and children often receive new clothes and sweets. Most of Egypt's population is Muslim, so this holiday is celebrated widely across the whole country. Egyptian Christians, called Coptic Christians, have their own special celebrations too — including Coptic Christmas, which falls on January 7th. Coptic Christians are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, tracing their history all the way back to the early church. Herman and Rusty think it is something worth knowing: even in a country where many people follow Islam, there are believers in Jesus who have been meeting together for nearly two thousand years.

What language do people speak in Egypt?

Most people in Egypt speak Arabic — specifically a form called Egyptian Arabic, which sounds a little different from the Arabic spoken in other countries. It is one of the most widely understood Arabic dialects in the whole world, partly because Egyptian movies and music have spread it everywhere. Egypt also has an ancient language called Coptic, which is thousands of years old. Christians in Egypt called Coptic Christians still use it in their church services today, even though people do not speak it as an everyday language anymore. It is a living connection to some of the oldest Christian communities on earth!

What's a famous place to visit in Egypt?

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most well-known structures on earth — and it is right in Egypt! It was built thousands of years ago as a tomb for a pharaoh, and it is so massive that you could fit several large buildings inside it. The ancient Egyptians believed their pharaohs were gods, but we know from the Bible that there is only one true God. Near the pyramid stands the Great Sphinx, a giant stone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a human. These monuments have been standing in the desert for around 4,500 years, which means they were already ancient when Moses walked through Egypt in the pages of the Bible. It is a reminder that God has been at work in this land for a very long time — and He still is today.

Egypt — Kids Missions Explorer

Nile Crocodile

Nile crocodiles can hold their breath underwater for up to two hours while waiting patiently for prey along the riverbank.

Egyptian Vulture

This clever bird is one of the few animals in the world known to use tools, dropping stones onto eggs to crack them open.

Fennec Fox

The fennec fox has enormous ears that help it hear insects moving under the desert sand and also release body heat to stay cool.

Koshari

Koshari layers lentils, rice, and macaroni together in one bowl, then tops everything with spiced tomato sauce and crispy fried onions — it is Egypt's beloved street food.

Ful Medames

Slow-cooked fava beans seasoned with garlic, lemon, and olive oil, ful medames has been eaten for breakfast in Egypt for thousands of years.

Feteer Meshaltet

This flaky, layered flatbread is folded dozens of times by hand and can be served sweet with honey or savory with cheese, making it a satisfying meal any time of day.

Egypt

Things you should know about Egypt

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Egypt

Missions in Egypt

Pray for Egypt