What animals live in Suriname?

Suriname is packed with wild creatures! The rainforest there is home to jaguars, giant river otters, tapirs, and howler monkeys whose calls echo through the trees. In the rivers you can find electric eels, caimans, and the enormous arapaima — one of the biggest freshwater fish in the world. The birds are something else entirely — scarlet macaws, toucans, and harpy eagles soar above the canopy. Suriname also has poison dart frogs in brilliant blues and reds, and giant anteaters shuffling along the forest floor. God packed so much variety into this one small country, and it reminds us that the Creator who made all of it also knows and loves every person living there.

What do kids eat in Suriname?

Kids in Suriname eat some really interesting food because the country has people from so many different backgrounds — African, Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, and more. One favorite is roti, a soft flatbread that came from Indian families long ago, usually eaten with potatoes and spiced vegetables or chicken. Rice is at the center of almost every meal, and a popular dish is pom — a baked casserole made from a root vegetable and chicken that has a flavor unlike anything you'd find in most other countries. For a snack, kids might grab a fresh mango or a small fried dough ball from a street vendor. Suriname's kitchen tells the whole story of its people in every bite.

How do people say hello in Suriname?

Suriname is one of the most language-rich places on Earth! The official language is Dutch, so many people say 'Hallo' (say it just like 'hallow' without the w-sound at the end) or 'Goedendag' (HOO-den-dahg), which means 'good day.' But here is the really interesting part — most people on the street actually speak Sranan Tongo, a creole language, where a common greeting is 'Fa waka?' which means something like 'How are you walking?' or 'How are things going?' Suriname has so many different groups of people — Hindustani, Javanese, Maroon, Amerindian, Chinese, and more — and each group may have its own language or greeting at home. The Maroon people, whose ancestors were brought from Africa long ago, have their own languages like Saramaccan and Ndyuka. Missionaries have worked hard to learn these languages so they can share the good news of Jesus in words people truly understand — because God loves every one of these groups and wants them to hear about His Son.

What sports or games do kids play in Suriname?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Suriname love football — what many people in North America call soccer. You will find kids kicking a ball around in open fields and on streets all across the country, from the capital city of Paramaribo to small villages near the rainforest. Rusty wants to add that cricket is also popular, especially among communities with roots in India and the Caribbean. Kids also enjoy swimming in the rivers — Suriname has plenty of them — and playing traditional games passed down through their families. With so many different people groups living together in Suriname, you end up with a real mix of games and traditions, which makes it a very interesting place to explore!

What's the weather like in Suriname?

Suriname is a hot and humid country right near the equator in South America, so it stays warm almost all year long. There are two rainy seasons and two dry seasons — instead of the winter and summer you might know, the weather there follows the rhythm of rain and sunshine. During the rainy season, heavy tropical downpours can flood rivers and make jungle trails very muddy. Missionaries and church workers who travel deep into the rainforest to share the gospel often have to plan their trips carefully around the weather — a flooded river can shut down a whole journey pretty fast!

Tell me a fun fact about Suriname.

Suriname is one of the smallest countries in South America, but it packs in something truly remarkable — more than 90% of the country is covered by thick tropical rainforest! That means towering trees, howler monkeys, giant river otters, and colorful poison dart frogs are practically everywhere you look. Here is another great one: Suriname is the only country in South America where Dutch is the official language, a leftover from its days as a Dutch colony. But walk through the capital city of Paramaribo and you might hear people switching between Dutch, Sranan Tongo (a local creole language), Hindi, Javanese, and more — all in the same neighborhood! That mix of languages is actually a big reason why Bible translators work hard in Suriname, so every person can hear about Jesus in the language they understand best.

What is school like for kids in Suriname?

School in Suriname is taught in Dutch, which is the official language of the country — even though kids at home might speak Sranan Tongo, Hindi, Javanese, or one of many other languages. That means some children are learning their school lessons in a language that is not their first language at home, which makes school extra challenging right from the start. In the cities like Paramaribo, there are real school buildings with teachers and textbooks. But deep in the rainforest interior, where Indigenous and Maroon communities live, schools can be hard to reach or hard to find at all. Some children there miss out on reading and writing, and many also have little chance to hear about Jesus. That is one reason missionaries work hard to bring both education and the gospel to those remote villages.

Who are the unreached people in Suriname?

Great question! Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America, and it has some people groups who have never really heard the good news about Jesus. Two of the biggest unreached groups are the Javanese people, whose ancestors came from the island of Java in Indonesia, and the Hindustani people, whose ancestors came from India. Many in both groups follow Islam or Hinduism and have little access to the gospel. There are also tribal peoples deep in Suriname's rainforest interior, called Maroons, whose ancestors were enslaved Africans who escaped into the jungle centuries ago. Some Maroon communities have heard about Jesus, but others still hold tightly to traditional spirit religions. And in the capital city of Paramaribo, there are Chinese immigrants who mostly practice Buddhism or folk religion and have very few believers among them. Each of these groups needs someone to bring them the message that Jesus died and rose again — and that is exactly why missionaries and local Surinamese Christians keep working and praying.

How can I pray for the people of Suriname?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding right beside me! Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America, packed with many different people groups — and many of them still need to hear clearly that Jesus died for their sins and rose again. You can start by praying that God opens hearts across Suriname to trust Jesus as their only Savior. Rusty wants to add a few more things worth bringing to God! Pray for the small churches in Suriname to grow strong and teach the Bible faithfully. Some people groups deep in the rainforest interior, like the Maroon communities, have very few Christians among them, so pray that indigenous leaders from those communities come to know Jesus and share the gospel with their own people. And pray for missionaries serving there — that they stay courageous and find open doors to tell families and children the good news.

What is a holiday or celebration in Suriname?

One of the most colorful celebrations in Suriname is Holi Phagwa, brought by people whose ancestors came from India long ago. During Holi, people throw bright powder and colored water on each other, filling the streets with reds, yellows, and greens. It marks the start of spring and is celebrated by the Hindu community in Suriname. Suriname is one of the most mixed-up countries in the world when it comes to people groups — you can find people with roots in India, Africa, Indonesia, China, the Netherlands, and more, all living in one small country. Because of that, there are many different holidays celebrated there. This is actually a great reminder that missionaries in Suriname need to know many different cultures and languages to share the good news of Jesus with everyone. That takes real courage and wisdom — and it is worth praying for!

What language do people speak in Suriname?

Suriname is one of the most language-rich places on earth! The official language is Dutch, which comes from the days when the Netherlands ruled the country. But walk down a street in the capital city of Paramaribo, and you might hear six or seven different languages before you finish your lunch. The most widely spoken everyday language is called Sranan Tongo, which means 'Suriname tongue.' It started as a way for people from many different backgrounds to talk to each other, mixing Dutch, English, Portuguese, and African languages together. There are also communities that speak Hindi, Javanese, Chinese, and several indigenous languages from the rainforest peoples. That means Bible translators have a big job to do, making sure every person can read about Jesus in the language of their own heart.

What's a famous place to visit in Suriname?

One of the most remarkable places in Suriname is the old city center of Paramaribo, the capital. It sits right along the Suriname River, and its wooden buildings from the Dutch colonial era are so well-preserved that the whole downtown area is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — meaning it's considered one of the special historic places on earth. What makes Paramaribo extra interesting is that you can walk just a few blocks and pass a Dutch Reformed church, a mosque, a Hindu temple, and a synagogue all near each other. That tells you something important about Suriname — it is one of the most mixed-together nations in the world, with people from Africa, India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and indigenous groups all living side by side. That means there are many different people groups there who still need to hear clearly that Jesus is the one true Savior. Missionaries there have a big and varied task!

Suriname — Kids Missions Explorer

Poison Dart Frog

These tiny, jewel-bright frogs live in Suriname's rainforest and carry enough poison in their skin to warn off almost any predator.

Giant River Otter

One of the longest otters in the world, this creature hunts fish in Suriname's wide rivers and lives in noisy, close-knit family groups.

Harpy Eagle

The harpy eagle is one of the most powerful birds on earth, capable of snatching monkeys from the forest canopy with talons as large as a human hand.

Pom

This baked dish layers chicken with grated pomtajer root and has a dense, savory flavor that Surinamese families often make for celebrations.

Roti

Brought to Suriname by Indo-Surinamese families, this soft flatbread is typically wrapped around curried vegetables or chicken and eaten by hand.

Bakabana

Ripe plantains are battered and deep-fried until golden, creating a sweet, soft snack sold by street vendors across Paramaribo.

Suriname

Things you should know about Suriname

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

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Life in Suriname

Missions in Suriname

Pray for Suriname