The Highlands
Genuine safaris and lodges in East Africa.
Our collaboration with Asilia Africa at The Highlands was an invitation into a story already deeply woven with intention. Perched on the remote slopes of the Olmoti Crater, The Highlands is a living, breathing bridge between people, land, and wildlife. Our role was to visually document this interconnectedness through film, photography, and short-form reels, capturing the spirit of place in its raw, elemental beauty.
Guided by our documentary ethos, we immersed ourselves in the rhythms of daily life at the lodge, the intimacy of quiet hikes, and the warmth of community interactions. Our creative focus was to reveal the nuance - the spaces between grandeur and stillness, luxury and humility. We told a story that not only reflects The Highlands' unique architectural design and ecological sensitivity, but also its deeper purpose: to create meaningful, regenerative connections for those who visit.
Main Film
Location: Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania
Client: Asilia Africa
Lodge Photography
Culture & community
The heart of The Highlands lies not just in its breathtaking landscapes but in its people - the Maasai communities who have called this region home for generations. Asilia Africa’s approach to cultural engagement is deeply respectful, offering guests authentic experiences that are guided by those who live the culture every day. Most of the lodge’s team have deep familial roots in nearby villages, and their pride in sharing that lineage is palpable.
Our creative lens was drawn to this living heritage, capturing everyday moments of laughter, storytelling, beadwork, and traditional ceremony with reverence and warmth. it was a window into a way of life lived in harmony with the land. For OM Creative, documenting these encounters was a powerful reminder of the richness that emerges when hospitality honours identity, and when storytelling becomes a vessel for dignity and shared humanity.
Conservation & wildlife
We approached this project by documenting The Highlands’ conservation efforts through the lens of slow, immersive experience. With our cameras, we joined guided hikes led by local Maasai experts through Empakaai and Olmoti craters, moving quietly through forests, open grasslands, and volcanic landscapes. These walking safaris offered a different kind of wildlife encounter: less about spectacle, more about presence. We focused on capturing the experience of learning about native flora, observing wildlife on foot, and understanding how Asilia encourages guests to connect with nature without the noise and rush of conventional tourism. It’s a model of conservation that prioritises education, respect for the land, and decentralising attention from overcrowded hotspots - one we were proud to help visually articulate.
Social Media content
We also created a series of social media reels designed to distill the immersive atmosphere of The Highlands into short, impactful stories. Each reel focused on themes like slow travel, wildlife encounters on foot, and community connection - crafted to resonate with Asilia’s audience while staying true to their values of authenticity, conservation, and meaningful experience.
