What animals live in Mozambique?

Mozambique is packed with remarkable wildlife! In the national parks like Gorongosa, you can find elephants, lions, hippos, buffalo, and zebras roaming across wide grassy plains. The long coastline is home to dolphins, whale sharks, and sea turtles gliding through warm Indian Ocean waters. Gorongosa National Park is a special place because it sits in a valley with rivers, forests, and open meadows all close together — which means many different animals can live side by side. There are also hundreds of bird species, crocodiles in the rivers, and leopards that are rarely seen because they are so good at hiding. When missionaries travel through Mozambique to share the good news about Jesus, they sometimes pass right through areas where these animals live — quite an adventure for God's work!

What do kids eat in Mozambique?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Mozambique eat a lot of xima (say it like 'sheema') — that's a thick porridge made from ground corn. It's the main food at most meals, kind of like how rice or bread shows up on tables in other parts of the world. Families scoop it up with their hands and dip it into sauces made with beans, greens, or fish. Rusty wants you to know about the fish! Mozambique has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean, so grilled fish and prawns are common foods near the sea. Inland, people eat more chicken, peanut stew, and cassava, which is a starchy root that can be boiled or dried and ground into flour. Mangoes and coconuts grow there too, so kids get to enjoy those sweet fruits right off the tree.

How do people say hello in Mozambique?

Great question! Mozambique has more than one language, but the most widely spoken is Portuguese — left over from when Portugal ruled the country. In Portuguese, you say 'Olá' (oh-LAH) for hello, or 'Bom dia' (bohn JEE-ah) which means 'Good morning.' But here's something worth knowing: many Mozambicans speak local languages at home, like Makhuwa, Tswa, or Sena. In Makhuwa, one of the most common greetings sounds like 'Usalama' — which carries the idea of peace and being well. When missionaries learn these local greetings, people light up. It shows respect, and it opens doors to share the best news of all — the gospel of Jesus.

What sports or games do kids play in Mozambique?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Mozambique, football — what you might call soccer — is by far the most loved sport. Kids play it everywhere: on dirt fields, in narrow streets, sometimes with a ball made from rags tied together when a real one isn't around. It brings whole neighborhoods together. Rusty wants to add that kids in Mozambique also enjoy track and field running, since Mozambique has produced some world-class distance runners. Younger children play traditional chasing and clapping games too, often in groups after school or in the evening. Games are usually simple, free, and played with friends close by — which honestly sounds like a good way to grow up.

What's the weather like in Mozambique?

Mozambique sits along the southeastern coast of Africa, and it has a tropical climate — which means it is warm most of the year. There are two main seasons: a hot, rainy season from about October to March, and a cooler, drier season from April to September. Along the coast, the Indian Ocean brings in humid air and sometimes powerful cyclones during the rainy season. These storms can be very destructive and have caused serious hardship for many families in Mozambique. Inland areas tend to be a bit drier, but the whole country depends on those seasonal rains for growing crops like cassava, maize, and sorghum — the foods that feed millions of people there.

Tell me a fun fact about Mozambique.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Mozambique has one of the longest coastlines in all of Africa — stretching about 2,500 kilometers along the Indian Ocean. That means fishermen there have been casting nets into warm, bright-blue water for thousands of years. Rusty wants you to know about the baobab tree, which grows all over Mozambique. These trees are extraordinary — their trunks can grow wider than a school bus is long, and some of them are over a thousand years old. People use the baobab's fruit to make a tangy drink, and the bark can even be woven into rope. God packed a lot of usefulness into one tree!

What is school like for kids in Mozambique?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! School in Mozambique can be quite different from what you might picture. Many children walk a long way — sometimes an hour or more — just to reach their classroom. The school building might be simple, with few books to go around, and some kids share a single pencil between two or three students. Rusty wants to add that Portuguese is the official language of Mozambique, so children learn to read and write in Portuguese even if they speak a different language at home — and there are over 40 local languages in that country! Some children, especially girls, stop going to school early because their families need help at home or cannot afford the fees. This is one reason why missionaries and local churches in Mozambique work hard to teach children — because learning to read also helps kids read the Bible for themselves, which is a wonderful thing.

Who are the unreached people in Mozambique?

Great question! Mozambique has millions of people who have never really heard the good news about Jesus. Some of the least-reached groups include the Makhuwa people in the north — they are the largest ethnic group in Mozambique, with around four million people, and most of them follow traditional African religions mixed with Islam. There are also Yao and Makonde communities where very few people have trusted Jesus as their Savior. Many of these communities have little or no part of the Bible translated into their heart language — the language they grew up speaking at home. Without God's Word in their own language, it is much harder for people to understand who Jesus truly is. That is why missionaries and Bible translators work hard to bring the gospel to these specific groups, so that one day every tribe in Mozambique can hear about Jesus in words they fully understand.

How can I pray for the people of Mozambique?

Mozambique is a place where God is very much at work, and your prayers matter! Many people there have heard about Jesus, but many others in remote villages and northern areas still have not. You can ask God to send more workers to share the gospel — and to give the people of Mozambique open hearts to trust Jesus as their Savior. Parts of northern Mozambique have seen real danger for Christians, with armed groups attacking villages and making it hard for believers to meet together. Pray for those persecuted Christians to be protected and to stay strong in their faith. Also pray for local Mozambican church leaders who are rising up to teach their own people — that God would make them wise, bold, and faithful to His Word.

What is a holiday or celebration in Mozambique?

Herman here, with Rusty right beside me! One big celebration in Mozambique is Independence Day on June 25th. That is the day in 1975 when Mozambique became a free nation after many years under Portuguese rule. People celebrate with music, dancing, colorful parades, and traditional foods like matapa, which is a stew made from cassava leaves and peanuts. Rusty wants to add something worth thinking about — many people in Mozambique also celebrate Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas, because a large number of Mozambicans are Christians. Easter is a time when believers remember that Jesus died and rose again, which is the very heart of the good news. It is a reminder that even in a country that has seen real hardship, there is real hope — and that hope has a name: Jesus.

What language do people speak in Mozambique?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, because Portugal ruled the country for many years before Mozambique became independent in 1975. So if you walked into a school or a government office there, you would hear Portuguese being spoken. But here is what makes Mozambique really interesting — most people at home speak one of over 40 local languages, like Makua, Sena, or Tswa. That means many Mozambicans do not yet have the whole Bible in their own heart language. Missionaries and Bible translators are working hard so that every person can read and hear about Jesus in the language they understand best.

What's a famous place to visit in Mozambique?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most well-known places in Mozambique is the Island of Mozambique — a small island connected to the mainland by a long bridge. It was once a major trading port hundreds of years ago, and its old stone buildings and forts still stand today, telling stories of the people who lived and traded there long ago. Rusty wants to add that the island sits right in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, so you can imagine fishermen heading out in their wooden boats each morning just like people have done for centuries. Missionaries have also passed through this region over the years, bringing the gospel with them. It's a good reminder that every place with a long history is also a place full of people whom God loves and wants to know Him.

Mozambique — Kids Missions Explorer

African Elephant

Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park is home to one of Africa's most closely studied elephant populations, where researchers have watched herds rebuild after decades of conflict.

Dugong

The warm waters off Mozambique's coast shelter one of the largest remaining dugong populations in the Indian Ocean, these gentle sea mammals grazing on underwater grass beds.

Pel's Fishing Owl

This rare, rust-colored owl hunts fish along Mozambique's forested river banks at night, and hearing its deep, booming call in the dark is something local people remember for life.

Piri Piri Prawns

Fresh prawns from the Indian Ocean are grilled with fiery piri piri chili sauce, and this dish is so tied to Mozambique that it traveled with Portuguese settlers and spread across the world.

Xima

A thick, smooth porridge made from white maize flour, xima is the everyday foundation of most Mozambican meals, scooped by hand and eaten alongside vegetables or fish.

Matapa

Cassava leaves are slowly cooked down with peanuts, garlic, and coconut milk to make this rich, dark green stew that has been a staple in Mozambican homes for generations.

Mozambique

Things you should know about Mozambique

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Mozambique

Missions in Mozambique

Pray for Mozambique