It's often difficult to combine vacation travel with humanitarian intent, but Joan Uglow, Stella Zahradnik, Mary Dillon, and Brenda Ratkay can say they've done it.

These four dynamic women set out on a journey to Africa last fall, and while they made sure to visit some tourist hotspots, they all agreed that visiting the Linda West Basic School in Livingstone, Zambia was the greatest highlight.

"We were only at the school for two hours but it was probably the best two hours of our entire trip," said Zahradnik, who was accompanied by her husband Peter.

The group met each other on a Probus trip in Greece three years ago, and have continued to be friends through their travels.

However, it was last year when a local resident, Gary Clegg, informed the women about his native continent and his connections in Africa that would lead to a very interesting tour.

"When Gary told us about the school and all of the exotic destinations in Africa, we were all pretty much hooked," said Dillon.

They left in September, and returned a month later having visited South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia.

Some favourite stops included canoeing in Pom Pom Camp in Botswana and visiting the National Park in Namibia.

"It was unreal," said Uglow, also accompanied by her husband Mac, "because all of the animals would line up to drink from the watering hole like some hierarchical system in the animal kingdom."

Elephant and zebra sightings aside, each woman was deeply touched by the Linda West Basic School in Livingstone, Zambia and stressed the impact of the visit which they had prepared for well before they left.

"My daughter is a teacher at in inner city school in Toronto, and she did a class project to raise awareness, and all of her students brought in school supplies to be brought to Africa. It was unbelievable," said Ratkay.

When they arrived at the school they were greeted by eager kids who were so anxious to be included in photographs, and an incredible teaching staff that was made up of some women that walked over an hour to the school every day.

"The kids were singing for us, and were so well behaved; it was such a joy to be a part of," said Uglow. They toured the grounds and found that the town was desperately in need of a well that they couldn't afford. And at one point before their visit, the school had installed toilets, only for them to be stolen.

"The things that happen there are just so different than in Canada, and you really don't know unless you immerse yourself in it," said Zahradnik.

After their month-long stay had passed, they really wanted to continue helping, but weren't sure how; until Karen Clegg became involved.

Clegg, wife of the women's tour guide, was heading to Zimbabwe in February of this year, and contacted them two days before departure to see if they wanted her to bring anything to the school in Zambia.

"Forty-eight hours wasn't much time for them to do anything, and it would have been alright if they couldn't help, but they arrived with US $900 to go toward school fees and uniforms. That money covered school fees and uniforms for 24 orphans for a full year of school," said Clegg.

Even though the year anniversary of their trip is fast approaching, all of the women want to continue to help the school in any way possible.

"There are 1,200 kids at a school that goes up until the eighth grade, and 388 are orphaned. It's our job to help them," said Ratkay.

Raising money and collecting supplies is already in the works, but they are having a hard time achieving their goal of giving back to the school that left them feeling compelled to donate their time and effort to a cause so far away from home.

"It's tough to send over money or food or supplies because you never know where it's going to end up," said Dillon.

All four vow to return to Africa one day, and promise to try their hardest to continue bringing hope to innocent children who know nothing of the world beyond their own, but still welcome strangers with open arms.