It is situated about 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Etosha Pan and is the largest lake in the Cuvelai Basin.

It holds water up to the following rainy season in a prosperous year.

Because the lake maintains water for a long time a number of birds like flamingos and others temporarily move there, when the oshanas (flood plains), swamps, and other wetlands dry up.

[2] During the 2012/2013 drought Lake Oponona shrank by more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) due to thousands of cattle that were moved there to drink.

[3] There is also Oponona River situated at Oniizimba village of Ompundja Constituency.