Onelungo Ponds, Cultural landscape and heritage site in Omusati Region, Namibia

Onelungo Ponds are a group of shallow waterholes in Namibia's Omusati Region, recognized as a cultural landscape and heritage site of Namibia. They form when rainwater collects in low-lying ground, and their edges are lined with indigenous fruit trees, while fish live and reproduce in the water.

The Onelungo Ponds are depressions of the Oshana system that fill with water during the rainy season, and they hold historical and cultural meaning for the Mbalantu (Ombalantu). Namibia designated them a national monument on 1 September 2011.

The ponds hold historical and cultural value for the Mbalantu (Ombalantu). Traditionally they caught a single fish from the water, grilled it and handed it to the king; only after that could the fishing season open. The site has been a national monument of Namibia since 1 September 2011.

The site is in the northern Omusati Region and is best reached with a private vehicle, as the area is remote. Visiting during or just after the rainy season gives the best chance of seeing the ponds with water.

A local belief holds that if someone draws water from the ponds without performing the proper ritual first, the baskets will stay empty or the water will turn red. This shows how tightly everyday actions and community rules are woven together in this place.