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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 102m3/s as of 16th September 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 74m3/s.

From:
3 September 2025
To:
16 September 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
3-Sep12591
4-Sep12290
5-Sep11988
6-Sep11887
7-Sep11686
8-Sep11585
9-Sep11384
10-Sep11283
11-Sep11081
12-Sep10880
13-Sep10779
14-Sep10578
15-Sep10476
16-Sep10274
levels graphic

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are receding, closing the period under review at 322m3/s as of 16th September 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 243m3/s.

From:
3 September 2025
To:
16 September 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
3-Sep378282
4-Sep370277
5-Sep365276
6-Sep363269
7-Sep356266
8-Sep354263
9-Sep353260
10-Sep348257
11-Sep344255
12-Sep339253
13-Sep334247
14-Sep328244
15-Sep326244
16-Sep322243

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are in recession, closing the period under review at 343m3/s as of 16th September 2025. The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 264m3/s.

From:
3 September 2025
To:
16 September 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
3-Sep402298
4-Sep394294
5-Sep385291
6-Sep383289
7-Sep379287
8-Sep377285
9-Sep369283
10-Sep364279
11-Sep361277
12-Sep357271
13-Sep353270
14-Sep351268
15-Sep347266
16-Sep343264