When EDDIE FRANK was a child growing up in the African bush, Tusker Trail's founding guide dreamed of outfitting a Land Rover and driving it on an expedition across the African continent. He was so obsessed that his grandfather bought him an Atlas of the world when he was 6 years old. But at the age of 13, his family moved to Los Angeles in the USA. His dream was over.
One day at the age of 23 he was having a beer with some friends at their local pub.
The topic of the trans-Africa Land Rover expedition came up. His friends bet him he would never do the trip. That was the spark. The dare.
A year later Eddie found himself in the Sahara desert, leading a Land Rover expedition across Africa with a dozen adventurers on board.
On that first trip, the jolt of excitement, the group camaraderie and the passion for discovery that he experienced - hit a nerve that was difficult for him to ignore. His life had begun and Tusker Trail was born.
The next - years found Eddie leading expeditions and safaris across Africa, exploring the mountains, deserts, jungles, savannahs and rivers that he found in the chilhood Atlas given to him by his grandfather.
During those years, as he journeyed through Africa he found himself exhilarated by a particular type of adventure - trekking. He learned that by exploring on foot he was able to slow down his pace and engage the continent face to face - and on its own terms.
Since those early days, a lot has changed. In 2004 he met Amy on a Kilimanjaro climb. She had spent most of her life guiding outdoor trips in Canada. They teamed up and built a formidable team, forging Tusker Trail's new direction on other continents and exploring new adventurous destinations.
But what hasn't changed since the early days is their driving passion for adventure, camaraderie and personal encounters in foreign lands. And this is the axis on which Tusker spins, and also what feeds our zeal for new experiences, adventure and discovery.
And if it wasn't for Tusker's travelers who follow us to the edges of the map, we'd be stuck at home, working a job. And that unique group includes you, another adventurer who just finished reading this article to find out what Tusker Trail's all about. You're a big part of this story.
Follow our adventure on Tusker Trail's LEGACY TIMELINE and discovering some juicy titbits from the early days.