The area known as the Sahara was originally created by pollution from a nearby zinc factory, which killed the local vegetation and exposed the underlying sand in the early 20th century.
The Lommelse Sahara is part of 'Bosland,' a cooperative nature project between several municipalities to create a massive contiguous forest.
The Uitkijktoren Lommelse Sahara is a 30-meter-high wooden observation tower located in the heart of the Lommelse Sahara nature reserve in Belgium. The tower provides an elevated vantage point over a landscape defined by expansive sand drifts, heathland, and surrounding coniferous forests. It was constructed to replace older wooden structures that succumbed to weather degradation over time. The surrounding nature reserve, the Lommelse Sahara, is a former industrial wasteland transformed into a protected parkland. Visitors can access the tower via a network of sandy hiking trails that crisscross the dunes. The structure features a spiral staircase leading to a top viewing platform that overlooks the central lake within the sand dunes. It is part of the Bosland area, which is the largest continuous forest region in Flanders.
The top viewing deck provides the best 360-degree panoramic shots of the dunes and the lake.
Wear sturdy walking shoes suitable for soft, deep sand.
Bring your own water and snacks as there are no facilities at the tower itself.
Visit during the shoulder seasons to avoid the midday heat, as there is limited shade on the dunes.
Do not attempt to cycle on the deep sand paths leading to the tower unless using a mountain bike with wide tires.
Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile dune vegetation; dogs must be kept on a leash.
