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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 153m3/s as of 24th August 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 148m3/s.

From:
11 August 2026
To:
24 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
11-Aug183183
12-Aug181180
13-Aug177176
14-Aug175173
15-Aug173170
16-Aug171168
17-Aug169165
18-Aug166163
19-Aug164160
20-Aug162158
21-Aug160154
22-Aug157152
23-Aug155151
24-Aug153148

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 490m3/s as of 24th August 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 442m3/s.

From:
11 August 2026
To:
24 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
11-Aug577532
12-Aug569527
13-Aug566516
14-Aug557510
15-Aug548500
16-Aug539494
17-Aug535487
18-Aug525480
19-Aug516472
20-Aug513465
21-Aug507460
22-Aug499454
23-Aug492443
24-Aug490442

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 510m3/s as of 24th August 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 459m3/s.

From:
11 August 2026
To:
24 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
11-Aug613570
12-Aug601562
13-Aug590550
14-Aug582540
15-Aug578530
16-Aug570519
17-Aug564513
18-Aug552508
19-Aug544497
20-Aug536492
21-Aug529485
22-Aug518478
23-Aug515466
24-Aug510459