TUSKER'S ORIGIN STORY
AN ATLAS AND A DREAM
EDDIE FRANK, a man of rugged determination, did not dream of the commonplace like becoming a fireman or a movie star. His dreams were of the untamed wilderness.. As a child, growing up in Africa, he yearned for the thrill of adventure, for the chance to conquer the wilds of Africa. His father regaled him with stories of the great explorers, and at the age of six, his grandfather gifted him a world atlas, stirring his desire for adventure. But fate had other plans. His family moved to the USA and the dream, like a distant echo, faded away.
Ten years later, in the gritty city of Los Angeles, a young man of 23, Eddie was building a career as a photographer. One fateful day, while sipping a cold beer with friends at his local pub, the conversation turned to adventure. And, with a glint of defiance in his eye, Eddie shared his dream of driving across Africa. His friends laughed, and said he'd never do it. But little did they know, that glint of defiance would be the very thing to fire up his dream once more. He went home, dug out his grandfather's atlas, and got to work.
TUSKER IS BORN
He spent a full year researching a trans-Africa route, studying the journals of adventurers who explored Africa over a century before. In February 1977, he and a friend embarked on the first of many expeditions through Africa, driving two Land Rovers and leading a dozen adventurers across Africa. The thrill of discovery was invigorating, it hit a nerve and Tusker Trail was born. Today, decades later, Eddie has become a member of the prestigious Explorers Club in New York City, an honor bestowed upon only 3500 worldwide, a true testament to his spirit of adventure.
EARLY JOURNEYS
Eddie blazed a trail of adventure through the African continent and beyond, driven by an insatiable hunger for the wild. He explored the mountains, deserts, jungles, and rivers of Africa, mapped out on the atlas given to him by his grandfather when he was six years old . But he found a new passion: trekking on foot. When you're on foot, the world slows to a crawl, and the wilderness is encountered face-to-face, on its own terms. It's a life-changing experience that became a way of living for him for the rest of his life..
THE FIRST EXPEDITION VIDEO
Adventure, that wild and reckless pursuit of the unknown, was what lured Eddie Frank into the wilderness. The danger, the uncertainty, the euphoria of new discovery- these were the things that set his blood on fire.
But how does one convey such a passion to those who have never known it? In 1993, Eddie snatched up an old video camera and ventured into the heart of Africa. He captured the sights, the sounds, the music, and the soul of the land.
He amassed a volume of footage and one of the finest collections of African music around. Join us as we journey back to 1993, to Tusker Trail’s very first expedition video.
Enjoy the ride!
A TRAIL TOO FAR
Eddie Frank's adventures across Africa were legendary, a wild and untamed odyssey that took him to the most remote and untrammeled corners of the continent. He dined with Emperor Bokassa in the Central African Empire, floated trucks down the Congo, led safaris in the wilds of Zambia, and uncovered ancient astronomical sites in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Once, he spent three weeks in the Sahara sitting out a coup by the Nigerian army.
On the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro Eddie first discovered his true calling. Back then, the idea of climbing Kilimanjaro was a novel one, and the mountain was not yet the well-hiked destination it is today. But Eddie saw something special in the mountain - an accessible challenge for adventurous travelers, and a feeling of accomplishment at the summit that was second to none.
It was a different time, when the dangers of altitude were less of a concern than the threat of a military coup. But Eddie persevered, and his approach changed the nature of the climb forever. He introduced world-class training to the local guides, and built Tusker Trail into one of the most respected companies on the mountain.
A TEAM OF ALL SORTS
In 2004, on his 23rd climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, Eddie Frank met Amy, a seasoned outdoor guide and mountaineer who had dedicated much of her life to leading adventurers through the Canada's wilderness. It was a meeting of like-minded souls, and soon their shared passion for the wild and the unknown brought them together.
They formed a formidable team, with their sights set on new continents and new adventures. They scouted and hand-crafted new treks that pushed the boundaries of personal discovery. They understood that true adventure is about new discoveries and the camaraderie comes from challenging oneself in foreign lands. This spirit of self-discovery is the axis on which Tusker Trail spins.
AMY FRANK - A GUIDE SUPREME
For 35 years, Amy has roamed the wilderness, scaling mountains with the rugged grace of a true wildcat. Long before she crossed paths with Eddie, she had already made a name for herself as a seasoned climber. And beyond the roof of Africa, she's guided treks through the Himalayas, in Bhutan, Nepal and across the vast steppes of Mongolia. As a co-instructor of Tusker Trail's high altitude first responder course, she's a vital force in shaping the training and syllabus for the guides.
But Amy's talents don't stop at the summit, as an authority on nutrition, she's collaborated with the Culinary Institute of America, crafting Tusker's famed Kilimanjaro recipes in their adventure kitchen.
THE LEGACY OF ADVENTURE
Step back in time and scroll through Tusker's Legacy timeline, joining a young Eddie Frank as he embarks on his first wide-eyed expedition across Africa in 1977. Over the years, he and Amy have forged new trails of discovery and adventures around the world, raising millions for charity on Kilimanjaro climbs and chasing solar eclipses across the globe. Adventure runs deep in Tusker's DNA, and it's that spirit of wild exploration that Eddie and Amy have infused into every journey they lead.
TUSKER'S ADVENTURE TV
Welcome to Adventure TV, where Tusker Trail's passion for adventure is captured in every frame. Here you'll discover the gritty, raw footage of our hard-driving expeditions across the African wilderness, dating back to the mid-1970s.
These films document the evolution of Tusker's adventure craft over the decades, culminating in the present-day thrill of our international trekking expeditions. Follow us as we reveal the rugged, sandy, and muddy world of overland adventure, and witness how we've crafted our adventure reputation.
CREATE YOUR OWN LEGACY
Tusker Trail's origins are deeply ingrained in Eddie's wild and adventurous childhood spent in the African wilderness. It was during his first breathtaking expedition to Africa in 1977 that Tusker Trail truly came to life. Since then, we have been leading intrepid travelers on journeys that ignite the soul and awaken the spirit. Our worldwide treks are the culmination of Eddie and Amy's lifetime pursuits.
They have meticulously crafted every detail of our expeditions to ensure that you too can experience the life-changing thrill that has driven them for so long. Eddie began Tusker Trail on a whim, and it consumed him. So we dare you to step out of your comfort zone and join us on a Tusker Trail trek, where the exhilaration and passion will take your breath away.
PHOTO GALLERY - THE EARLY DAYS
Bush Cuisine in Northern Kenya
Congo Expedition 1980
Crossing the Congo River 1983
Dugout Travel in Okavango Delta
Early Safari Days in Tanzania
Eddie with Sahara Touaregs 1983
Bush Salon in Zambia
Hoggar Mountains in the Sahara
Congo Jungle
Hydration on Kilimanjaro
Trekking with the Maasai 1988
Making Friends in Malawi
Mango Daze in Malawi
Early Days in the Congo
EXPLORE MORE
Discover how an exciting trek can change your life.
See why climbing Kilimanjaro is life-changing.
Find out how a true adventure keeps your spirit alive forever.