What animals live in Comoros?

Comoros is a small chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, and the waters around it are full of life! Sea turtles come ashore on the beaches to lay their eggs, and humpback whales pass through the nearby ocean. The coelacanth — a deep-sea fish scientists once thought had been extinct for millions of years — was famously found living in the waters near Comoros. That is quite a discovery! On land, Comoros has fruit bats called flying foxes that glide through the air at night, and the islands are home to several birds found nowhere else on earth, like the Comoro blue pigeon. Lemurs related to those in Madagascar also live there. It is a reminder that God packed an enormous variety of creatures into this small corner of His creation.

What do kids eat in Comoros?

Herman here, with Rusty leaning over my shoulder! Kids in Comoros eat a lot of rice — it shows up at nearly every meal. They also eat fresh fish caught right from the Indian Ocean, and a starchy root vegetable called cassava that gets cooked up in all kinds of ways. Rusty wants to add: coconut is a big deal on these islands! Cooks use coconut milk to make sauces rich and flavorful. You might also find plantains, which look like big bananas but are cooked before eating, and a spiced meat dish called pilao that mixes rice with meat and warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom. It smells wonderful.

How do people say hello in Comoros?

In Comoros, most people greet each other with 'Salama!' which comes from Arabic and means peace. You might also hear 'Habari?' which is a Swahili greeting asking 'How are you?' — and the friendly reply is 'Nzuri,' meaning 'Good!' Comorians are known for being warm and welcoming to guests. Comoros is a small island nation off the east coast of Africa, and its people speak a language called Shikomori, along with Arabic and French. Arabic greetings like 'As-salamu alaykum' are also very common there, since almost everyone on the islands follows Islam. That means most people in Comoros have not yet heard the good news about Jesus — which is exactly why it matters that missionaries and local believers keep sharing His story there.

What sports or games do kids play in Comoros?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Comoros love football — that's what most of the world calls soccer — and you'll find them playing on any flat patch of ground they can find, often near the beach on those beautiful Indian Ocean islands. The sandy shores also make a perfect spot for swimming and fishing games that have been passed down for generations. Rusty wants you to know that kids there also enjoy a traditional board game called 'mweso,' which is a counting and strategy game played across East Africa and the islands nearby — it takes real brain power to win! Since Comoros is a small island nation, the ocean is part of everyday life, so games involving boats, swimming, and fishing are a natural part of growing up there.

What's the weather like in Comoros?

Comoros sits in the Indian Ocean near the east coast of Africa, so it stays warm and humid almost all year long. There are two main seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, drier season from May to October. Even in the 'cool' season, temperatures are still quite warm compared to many places in the world. The islands are also home to an active volcano called Mount Karthala on the main island, Grand Comore. When it rumbles or erupts, it can send ash across the island and affect the people living nearby. Most Comorians are farmers or fishermen, so the weather matters a great deal to them — heavy rains or droughts can make life very difficult for families trying to grow food and stay fed.

Tell me a fun fact about Comoros.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Comoros is a tiny island nation tucked in the Indian Ocean between Africa and Madagascar, and it holds a wild record — it has one of the highest numbers of coups, or sudden government takeovers, of any country in the world. Since independence in 1975, there have been more than twenty of them! Rusty wants to add the nature angle: Comoros is also the main place on earth where ylang-ylang flowers are grown and harvested. These small yellow flowers are pressed to make a strongly scented oil used in perfumes all around the world. So when someone in Paris or New York opens a bottle of fancy perfume, there is a good chance a farmer on one of these small islands had something to do with it.

What is school like for kids in Comoros?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding right beside me! In Comoros, children usually start school speaking Comorian at home, but when they get to class, the lessons are taught in French or Arabic — sometimes both. That means kids are learning their subjects and a whole new language at the same time, which takes real effort and determination. Many schools in Comoros are Islamic schools called 'madrasas,' where children memorize the Quran in Arabic. Government schools also exist, but buildings can be crowded and supplies are often scarce. Because of that, some families find it hard to keep their children in school past the early years. Rusty always says it's worth praying that children there would have the chance to learn — and even more, that they would one day hear the good news about Jesus in a way they truly understand.

Who are the unreached people in Comoros?

The Comorian people are the main unreached group in Comoros — a small island nation in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. Almost everyone there, about 98 out of every 100 people, follows Islam, and very few have ever heard the good news about Jesus in a way that made sense to them. The Comorians speak their own language called Comorian, and for a long time they had very little of the Bible translated into words they could fully understand. There are also Arab and Indian traders who have lived on the islands for generations, and most of them have not heard the gospel either. These are people Jesus loves deeply, and He knows each of them by name — which is exactly why missionaries and prayer matter so much here.

How can I pray for the people of Comoros?

Comoros is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean where almost everyone follows Islam, and very few people have ever heard the good news about Jesus. You can pray that God opens hearts there — that Comorians hear who Jesus really is and trust Him as their Savior. That is one of the most powerful things you can do for people far away. There are only a small handful of believers in Comoros, and following Jesus there can be very hard and lonely. Pray that those few Christians grow strong and brave in their faith, and that God raises up Comorian leaders who love Jesus and tell their own people about Him. Pray too for missionaries who are trying to find ways to share the gospel on those islands — that God gives them courage and open doors.

What is a holiday or celebration in Comoros?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the biggest celebrations in Comoros is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan — a month when Muslims fast from food and drink during daylight hours. When Ramadan ends, families in Comoros put on their finest clothes, share big meals with neighbors, and give gifts to children. The streets fill with music and the smell of grilled fish and rice dishes. Rusty wants you to know something important: nearly everyone in Comoros follows Islam, so most celebrations there are tied to the Muslim calendar. Very few people in Comoros have heard the good news about Jesus, which means they are celebrating without knowing the true God who loves them. That is actually one reason missionaries care so much about reaching Comoros — there are whole islands of people who have not yet heard that Jesus came to save them.

What language do people speak in Comoros?

Most people in Comoros speak Comorian, which is sometimes called Shikomori. It is a Bantu language with roots that connect to the East African coast, and it actually has four different dialects — one for each of the main islands. People also speak Arabic and French, since those languages are used in schools and government. Here is something worth knowing: the Bible has not been fully translated into Comorian yet. That means many people on these islands have never been able to read God's Word in the language they grew up speaking. Missionaries and Bible translators are working hard on this, because when people can hear about Jesus in their heart language, it often reaches them in a deeper way.

What's a famous place to visit in Comoros?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder at the map! The most talked-about place in Comoros is Mount Karthala, a giant active volcano on the island of Grande Comore. It is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, and its crater at the top is wide enough to hold a whole village inside it. Rusty wants to add that the islands of Comoros also have old stone towns with narrow winding streets, like Moroni, the capital city, where you can find a beautiful old harbor and a Friday mosque that has stood for centuries. The people there have lived on these islands in the Indian Ocean for a very long time, and most of them have never heard the good news about Jesus — which is exactly why we have this place on our atlas.

Comoros — Kids Missions Explorer

Coelacanth

This ancient fish was thought to be extinct for 65 million years until one was caught alive near Comoros in 1938, making it one of the most surprising discoveries in natural history.

Livingstone's Flying Fox

One of the world's largest bats, this fruit bat lives only in the forests of Comoros and has a wingspan that can reach nearly five feet across.

Mongoose Lemur

This rust-and-gray lemur was brought from Madagascar long ago and now lives wild on the islands of Comoros, making it one of the very few places outside Madagascar where lemurs are found.

Langouste à la Vanille

Grilled lobster cooked with the island's own vanilla gives this dish a rich, sweet-savory flavor that reflects how Comoros sits at the crossroads of the sea and the spice trade.

Mkatra Foutra

This coconut flatbread is cooked on a griddle and eaten at breakfast, tasting slightly sweet and chewy from the fresh coconut milk folded into the dough.

Pilao

A spiced rice dish cooked with meat, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, pilao fills the air with warm fragrance and is served at celebrations and family gatherings.

Comoros

Things you should know about Comoros

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Comoros

Missions in Comoros

Pray for Comoros