Hydrology Banner

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 126m3/s as of 7th September 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 116m3/s.

From:
25 August 2026
To:
7 September 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
25-Aug149145
26-Aug148143
27-Aug145141
28-Aug142139
29-Aug141137
30-Aug139134
31-Aug137131
1-Sept134130
2-Sept132127
3-Sept129125
4-Sept126122
5-Sept123119
6-Sept126118
7-Sept126116

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 413m3/s as of 7th September 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 356m3/s.

From:
25 August 2026
To:
7 September 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
25-Aug484431
26-Aug476427
27-Aug472422
28-Aug467413
29-Aug460409
30-Aug454400
31-Aug448395
1-Sept446392
2-Sept436385
3-Sept433378
4-Sept427370
5-Sept425365
6-Sept418363
7-Sept413356

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 438m3/s as of 7th September 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 379m3/s.

From:
25 August 2026
To:
7 September 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
25-Aug504456
26-Aug500448
27-Aug492439
28-Aug483432
29-Aug476427
30-Aug469424
31-Aug467417
1-Sept462411
2-Sept457405
3-Sept453402
4-Sept451394
5-Sept447385
6-Sept444383
7-Sept438379