The Queen’s Baton Relay reached the United Republic of Tanzania on 13 November, after spending three days in
Rwanda.
The Tanzanian leg of the journey started in the country’s largest city and financial hub, Dar-Es-Salaam, at JMK Youth Park, which is named after former president, Jakaya M. Kikwete. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as the sun shone down on local children playing hockey and football, during the Baton’s visit to the park.
The Relay visited the Uhuru Monument, situated in the Mnazi Mmoja Park, which depicts the Uhuru Torch, a national symbol of freedom and light first lit at the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro to symbolically light up the whole country.
The Relay continued passing the Clock Tower, before arriving at the Askari Monument, which memorialises the Askari, who are African soldiers that fought in the British Campaign against Germany in World War I. The Batonbearers and attendees paid their respects to the lives lost.
Continuing the tour of Dar, the Relay visited the British High Commission, the National Museum, and the State House.
Day two took the Relay to Changuu, a small island with beautiful scenery off the coast of Zanzibar. In the 1860s, the island was used to detain enslaved persons. In 1893, the island was sold to the British First Minister who built a prison on it, however no prisoners were ever held there and instead, it was used as a hospital and quarantine area. Now, the island is now home to Aldabra giant tortoises, who are classed as a vulnerable species. The oldest tortoise living on the island is more than twice the age of the Commonwealth Games!
