What animals live in Cambodia?

Cambodia is home to some remarkable creatures! In the forests and rivers, you can find Asian elephants, clouded leopards, and sun bears — which are the smallest bears in the world. The Mekong River, one of the longest rivers in Asia, is home to the Irrawaddy dolphin, a round-nosed dolphin that fishermen there have known for generations. Cambodia also has the giant ibis, a large wading bird that is found almost nowhere else on earth. Gecko lizards are so common that people hear their chirping calls inside homes at night. Many Cambodian families fish the Tonle Sap lake, which fills and shrinks with the seasons and holds hundreds of kinds of fish — it is one of the richest freshwater fishing places in the world. God filled this corner of creation with variety, and it gives the people there food and livelihood to this day.

What do kids eat in Cambodia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Cambodia eat a lot of rice — it shows up at nearly every meal, even breakfast. A favorite dish is called 'bai sach chrouk,' which is grilled pork over rice eaten in the morning. Fish is huge too, since Cambodia sits along the Mekong River and the great Tonle Sap Lake. Rusty wants to tell you about 'num pang,' a crispy baguette sandwich stuffed with meat and fresh vegetables — Cambodian kids love grabbing one from a street cart. For something sweet, many kids enjoy fresh tropical fruits like mangoes, rambutans, and dragon fruit. Snacks can get adventurous too — some kids munch on dried or fried insects, which are crunchy and salty and considered a perfectly normal treat!

How do people say hello in Cambodia?

In Cambodia, the most common greeting is 'Chumreap suor' (say it like: chum-reap soo-er). Instead of shaking hands, people press their palms together near their chest and bow slightly — this gesture is called the 'sampeah.' It is a respectful and gentle way to greet someone. The Khmer people, who make up most of Cambodia's population, have used this greeting for many centuries. If you just want something quick and casual, many Cambodians also say 'Sok sabay?' which means something like 'Are you well?' Knowing even a few words in someone's language is a wonderful way to show them they matter — and missionaries often learn these greetings first so people can feel God's love right from the start.

What sports or games do kids play in Cambodia?

Hey there, explorer! Kids in Cambodia love to kick around a rattan ball in a game called Sepak Takraw — the players keep the ball in the air using only their feet, knees, chest, and head. No hands allowed! It takes real skill and practice. Soccer is also hugely popular, and you'll find kids playing on dusty fields all across the country. Cambodian kids also enjoy a game called Bos Angkunh, where players toss seeds and try to knock over a pile of seeds on the ground — a bit like marbles but with seeds from a jungle vine. Kite flying is another favorite, especially during the windy season after the harvest. These games have been played for generations, passed down through families, and they're a great reminder that kids all over the world love to laugh, compete, and play together.

What's the weather like in Cambodia?

Cambodia is a warm country near the equator, so it stays hot nearly all year — usually between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. There are really two main seasons: a dry season and a wet season, sometimes called the rainy season or the monsoon. The wet season runs roughly from May to October, when heavy rains pour down most afternoons and the rivers swell up. The dry season, from November to April, is sunny and a bit cooler. Farmers in Cambodia depend on those rains to grow the rice that feeds their families, and people have been living around the rhythms of these seasons for thousands of years.

Tell me a fun fact about Cambodia.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Cambodia is home to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the entire world. It covers more ground than many small cities, and it was built nearly 900 years ago from blocks of stone that workers moved without any modern machines. Rusty wants you to picture this: the temple complex has so many towers, hallways, and carvings that explorers are still mapping parts of it today. It was first built to honor a Hindu god, but Cambodia has changed a lot since then — today most Cambodians follow Buddhism, which means many people there are still waiting to hear the true good news about Jesus.

What is school like for kids in Cambodia?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Cambodia, many children walk long distances to reach a school that might have just one or two rooms for all the grades. Classes can be crowded, with fifty or more students sharing a small space, and not every child has their own textbook. Rusty wants to add that some families need their children to help work at home or in the fields, so not every child gets to finish school. That makes it harder to read — and harder to read the Bible someday too. That is one reason missionaries and local churches in Cambodia work hard to help children learn, so they can grow up and read God's Word for themselves.

Who are the unreached people in Cambodia?

Great question! Cambodia is home to several people groups who have heard very little about Jesus. The largest unreached group is the Khmer people — that's the main ethnic group of Cambodia, with millions of people. Even though Cambodia has some churches, most Khmer villages have never had anyone explain who Jesus is or why He came. There are also smaller groups like the Cham people, who are mostly Muslim, and various hill tribes in the mountains who follow ancient spirit religions. These groups have very few Christians among them, and some don't even have the Bible in their own language yet. That means there are still real people — kids, grandparents, farmers, fishermen — who have never had a chance to hear that Jesus loves them and died to save them.

How can I pray for the people of Cambodia?

Cambodia is a country where most people follow a religion called Theravada Buddhism, which means millions of people there have not yet heard the good news that Jesus died for their sins and rose again. You can pray that Cambodian people — in rice-farming villages, busy markets, and crowded cities like Phnom Penh — would hear about Jesus and trust Him as their Savior. There are Cambodian Christians who love Jesus and want to tell their neighbors about Him, so pray that those local churches grow strong and faithful. Pray also for missionaries working there to have courage and open doors to share the gospel, and for children and families across Cambodia to come to know Jesus personally. God hears every prayer, and He loves the people of Cambodia deeply.

What is a holiday or celebration in Cambodia?

One of the biggest celebrations in Cambodia is Khmer New Year, called 'Choul Chnam Thmey.' It happens every April and lasts three days. Families clean their homes, wear bright new clothes, visit temples, and play traditional games together. It is a little like a fresh start for the whole country. Most Cambodians celebrate Khmer New Year following Buddhist customs, which means many of them have not yet heard the good news about Jesus. Missionaries and Cambodian Christians use times like this — when families are together and hearts feel open — to share how Jesus offers a truly new beginning, not just once a year, but forever. That is something worth praying for!

What language do people speak in Cambodia?

The main language of Cambodia is called Khmer — you say it like 'kuh-MY.' Almost everyone in the country speaks it, and it has its own unique alphabet with curvy, flowing letters that look unlike almost any other writing system in the world. Khmer is one of the oldest languages in Southeast Asia, and there are ancient stone temples with Khmer writing carved into them from over a thousand years ago. This is one reason Bible translation work matters so much — when people can read God's Word in Khmer, it speaks right to their hearts in the language they grew up with.

What's a famous place to visit in Cambodia?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder! The most famous place in Cambodia is Angkor Wat — a massive stone temple built about 900 years ago. It is so large that it is actually the biggest religious monument in the entire world. People travel from many countries just to see its tall towers and carved stone walls rising out of the jungle. Rusty wants you to know that Angkor Wat was first built to honor a Hindu god, but it later became a Buddhist temple — and today Cambodia is mostly Buddhist. That means millions of Cambodian people have not yet heard that Jesus is the only way to know the true God. While explorers visit those ancient stone towers, missionaries are working to bring the living message of Jesus to the Cambodian people. That is a much greater treasure than any temple!

Cambodia — Kids Missions Explorer

Irrawaddy Dolphin

These rare, round-headed dolphins live in the Mekong River and are known to help fishermen by herding fish toward their nets.

Giant Ibis

Cambodia's national bird is one of the rarest birds on earth, standing nearly a meter tall and found almost nowhere else in the world.

Mekong Giant Catfish

This river giant can grow as long as a small car and is one of the largest freshwater fish ever recorded anywhere on the planet.

Fish Amok

Cambodia's most beloved dish is a creamy, mildly spiced fish curry steamed inside a banana leaf cup and eaten at celebrations and everyday meals alike.

Nom Banh Chok

Often called Khmer noodles, this dish of thin rice noodles topped with a fresh green fish gravy is what many Cambodians eat for breakfast every single morning.

Sticky Rice with Mango

Sweet glutinous rice served alongside ripe mango and drizzled with coconut cream is a favorite treat that tastes like a warm, tropical afternoon.

Cambodia

Things you should know about Cambodia

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Cambodia

Missions in Cambodia

Pray for Cambodia