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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 in recession, closing the period under review at 169m3/s as of 17th August 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 165m3/s. 

From:
4 August 2026
To:
17 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
4-Aug204203
5-Aug202201
6-Aug199199
7-Aug196196
8-Aug191192
9-Aug189189
10-Aug186186
11-Aug183183
12-Aug181180
13-Aug177176
14-Aug175173
15-Aug173170
16-Aug171168
17-Aug169165

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 535m3/s as of 17th August 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 487m3/s.

From:
4 August 2026
To:
17 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
4-Aug649599
5-Aug635590
6-Aug631577
7-Aug618570
8-Aug609555
9-Aug600545
10-Aug590539
11-Aug577532
12-Aug569527
13-Aug566516
14-Aug557510
15-Aug548500
16-Aug539494
17-Aug535487

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 564m3/s as of 17th August 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 513m3/s.

From:
4 August 2026
To:
17 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
4-Aug703665
5-Aug691648
6-Aug674626
7-Aug661616
8-Aug641606
9-Aug631594
10-Aug624581
11-Aug613570
12-Aug601562
13-Aug590550
14-Aug582540
15-Aug578530
16-Aug570519
17-Aug564513