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River Flows

The hydrometric network used for the control and day to day operations of the Kariba reservoir comprise of thirteen stations where water levels are monitored daily. Flow measurements are carried out at eight of these stations which include the Victoria Falls, one of the key stations on the Zambezi River. Coincidentally, the maximum flow recorded at Victoria Falls was during the early construction phase of Kariba Dam in March 1958 at 10,000 cubic metres per second.  The lowest flows recorded to date at Victoria Falls were during the 1995/96 season which had an annual mean flow of 390 cubic metres per second, whereas the Long Term Mean Annual flow at Victoria Falls is 1,100 cubic metres per second.

FLOWS AT SELECTED STATIONS:

Chavuma

The Zambezi River flows at Chavuma are steadily decreasing again, closing the period under review at 2,399m3/s as of 21st April 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 2,601m3/s.

From:
8 April 2026
To:
21 April 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
8-Apr3,1273,542
9-Apr3,0633,682
10-Apr2,9853,720
11-Apr2,9193,670
12-Apr2,8583,554
13-Apr2,8023,423
14-Apr2,7443,259
15-Apr2,7103,127
16-Apr2,6903,019
17-Apr2,6672,916
18-Apr2,6172,803
19-Apr2,5522,692
20-Apr2,4692,682
21-Apr2,3992,601

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, with records of fluctuation being observed due to localised rainfall activity within the catchment area, closing the period under review at 3,647m3/s as of 21st April 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 2,650m3/s.

From:
8 April 2026
To:
21 April 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
8-Apr3,9642,367
9-Apr3,9022,389
10-Apr3,8572,417
11-Apr3,8232,451
12-Apr3,7702,480
13-Apr3,7362,513
14-Apr3,6792,529
15-Apr3,6402,557
16-Apr3,6472,580
17-Apr3,6242,596
18-Apr3,6212,626
19-Apr3,6212,629
20-Apr3,6402,633
21-Apr3,6472,650

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 3,853m3/s as of 21st April 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 2,297m3/s.

From:
8 April 2026
To:
21 April 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
8-Apr4,1042,006
9-Apr4,0432,015
10-Apr4,0242,036
11-Apr4,0352,063
12-Apr4,0432,082
13-Apr4,0292,099
14-Apr4,0052,126
15-Apr3,9762,150
16-Apr3,9602,165
17-Apr3,9242,182
18-Apr3,8922,223
19-Apr3,8682,275
20-Apr3,8552,273
21-Apr3,8532,297