It forms a broad peninsula on the southern shore of Winam Gulf, an extension of Lake Victoria.

This peninsula defines Homa Bay and the mountaintop is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the town of that name.

In the Luo language Got Uma or God Marahuma means "famous mountain".

The mountain is formed of carbonatite lava and dates from Miocene to Pleistocene.

Along with the active Ol Doinyo Lengai, it is one of the very few carbonatite volcanoes in the world.