Eddie Frank & Tusker Trail are not interlopers in Africa. Eddie was born and raised there, and spends most of his life there. He is an African, conducting an adaptive adventure business that is harmonious in all respects with its environment. And by "environment" we mean the land, the people, and the wildlife. Eddie has a vested interest in the communities where he operates. Simply speaking, he is a good citizen.

What follows is a list of past and ongoing projects, which engage a large amount of Tusker Trail's money and muscle.

Community Development
RAINBOW RIDGE
(Moshi, Tanzania - Current)

In 2006, 68 children were living with a few caregivers in a small 4-bedroom house in Moshi, Tanzania. They lived with no running water, no kitchen, no stove, and often nothing to eat. They had no support and no education. John O’Reilly, an Australian lawyer happened to meet the kids back then, and was so moved, he created Committee Assist, a non-profit foundation keyed to helping the kids rebuild their lives.

Committee Assist raised some money, bought a great piece of land and started to build a new home for the kids, called RAINBOW RIDGE. Tusker Trail is a huge supporter of RAINBOW RIDGE.

Tusker Trail has started a volunteer project, where you can help out at the orphanage after your Kilimanjaro Climb. Contact Us for details.

Community Development
THE UHURU FOUNDATION
(Tanzania - Current)

EDDIE FRANK , together with MATTHEW RUETER, an attorney from New York and Tusker veteran, have formed this non-profit organization, based in the US and Tanzania.

The mission of the non-profit UHURU FOUNDATION is to help individuals, families and communities in Africa develop sustainable small businesses and create jobs. The UHURU FOUNDATION makes financial markets accessible to the poor through micro-finance loans, and provides job-training programs. One of our pilot programs is a water borehole drilling and irrigation construction project. It is run in partnership with small villages, and includes educating the local farmers on how to farm in a sustainable manner with locally produced tools.

PORTERS ON KILIMANJARO
(Tanzania - Current)

The only organization fighting for porter rights and porter working conditions is the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistant Project (KPAP). This is a non-profit organization based in Moshi, and working on shoestring. But they're doing a damn fine job. Eddie Frank, who has set high standards for porter treatment, is a consultant to the small organization, and donates a fair amount of money and lots of his time to help it survive. The other so-called "porter unions" are merely fronts for commercial outfits.

Read more about Kilimanjaro Porter Assistant Project

Wildlife Research
ELEPHANT RESEARCH
(Tanzania - 2009)

In 2009, in a study of elephants in a private conservancy in Tanzania, Eddie Frank will commit personal and company resources to an ongoing study of mammal communication. Dr. Laurance Doyle, PhD., a program director at the SETI INSTITUTE California, and ex-NASA astronomer, is conducting related mammal communication research in the United States with two colleagues at UC DAVIS, both wildlife biologists.

Community Development
LWENGU SCHOOL
(Zambia - Current)

Eddie Frank believes that the future of Africa's communities lies in a solid education of the youngsters. The Lwengu School, founded by Eddie's close friend and safari colleague, Shatis Vlahakis, is one of the exciting places where this happens.

New Library - Eddie Frank's commitment to the education of African youngsters is ongoing. The new project at Lwengu School in Zambia is to build a library. It will be the only library in Monze, a town of 50,000 residents.

Student Grants - The AIDS epidemic is leaving a lot of youngsters parentless and without the means to continue their valuable education. Eddie has committed his personal funds for the ongoing education of 2 of the orphan students, currently still attending Lwengu School.

Visiting Teacher Program - Teacher & school support program. TUSKER TRAIL is in the process of orchestrating a visiting teacher program to benefit the Lwengu School in Monze, a model private education facility, established by Shatis Vlahakis, a good friend and safari colleague of Eddie Frank. The school's syllabus is currently 50% conservation-based. Anyone interested in participating should contact us.

Science & Research
GREAT ZIMBABWE
(Zimbabwe - 1989)

With Dr. Laurance Doyle, Eddie made some intriguing astronomical findings at this ancient site, located in central Zimbabwe, and dating back to 400 A.D.

Science & Research
NAMORATUNGA
(Kenya - 1983)

With Dr. Laurance Doyle, a NASA astrophysicist, Eddie Frank discovered and conducted research at a fascinating 2,200 year-old astronomical observatory in remote northern Kenya.