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 413m3/s as of 22nd June 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 433m3/s.

From:
9 June 2026
To:
22 June 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
9-Jun535591
10-Jun524575
11-Jun511558
12-Jun500545
13-Jun490532
14-Jun479516
15-Jun469502
16-Jun461493
17-Jun452482
18-Jun444472
19-Jun437461
20-Jun427452
21-Jun420443
22-Jun413433

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 1,465m3/s as of 22nd June 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 1,643m3/s.

From:
9 June 2026
To:
22 June 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
9-Jun18182170
10-Jun17872116
11-Jun17562068
12-Jun17232025
13-Jun16952006
14-Jun16651948
15-Jun16321912
16-Jun15951868
17-Jun15731828
18-Jun15471787
19-Jun15261752
20-Jun15081711
21-Jun14861685
22-Jun14651643

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 1,800m3/s as of 22nd June 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 2,143m3/s.

From:
22 June 2026
To:
22 June 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
9-Jun23712639
10-Jun23252610
11-Jun22792573
12-Jun22252541
13-Jun21842505
14-Jun21352469
15-Jun20902429
16-Jun20422389
17-Jun20022356
18-Jun19592308
19-Jun19192273
20-Jun18772231
21-Jun18382193
22-Jun18002143