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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 228m3/s as of 28th July 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 229m3/s.

From:
15 July 2026
To:
28 July 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
15-Jul280283
16-Jul276279
17-Jul272275
18-Jul264270
19-Jul261265
20-Jul257261
21-Jul253257
22-Jul250252
23-Jul246249
24-Jul243245
25-Jul238242
26-Jul235238
27-Jul231234
28-Jul228229

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 741m3/s as of 28th July 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 700m3/s.

From:
15 July 2026
To:
28 July 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
15-Jul968973
16-Jul949951
17-Jul933924
18-Jul914896
19-Jul893878
20-Jul877850
21-Jul860828
22-Jul829807
23-Jul809786
24-Jul796761
25-Jul785750
26-Jul766730
27-Jul755715
28-Jul741700

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 822m3/s as of 28th July 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 814m3/s.

From:
15 July 2026
To:
28 July 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
15-Jul11331228
16-Jul11131195
17-Jul10941160
18-Jul10671126
19-Jul10291097
20-Jul10041057
21-Jul9801029
22-Jul958994
23-Jul936963
24-Jul909942
25-Jul884904
26-Jul856873
27-Jul840840
28-Jul822814