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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 204m3/s as of 4th August 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 203m3/s. 

From:
22 August 2026
To:
4 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
22-Jul250252
23-Jul246249
24-Jul243245
25-Jul238242
26-Jul235238
27-Jul231234
28-Jul228229
29-Jul223226
30-Jul220222
31-Jul217218
1-Aug212215
2-Aug209211
3-Aug207208
4-Aug204203

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 649m3/s as of 4th August 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 599m3/s.

From:
22 July 2026
To:
4 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
22-Jul829807
23-Jul809786
24-Jul796761
25-Jul785750
26-Jul766730
27-Jul755715
28-Jul741700
29-Jul726677
30-Jul710663
31-Jul695650
1-Aug685638
2-Aug674625
3-Aug658609
4-Aug649599

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 703m3/s as of 4th August 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 665m3/s.

From:
22 July 2026
To:
4 August 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
22-Jul958994
23-Jul936963
24-Jul909942
25-Jul884904
26-Jul856873
27-Jul840840
28-Jul822814
29-Jul808788
30-Jul785764
31-Jul769744
1-Aug752721
2-Aug733701
3-Aug720675
4-Aug703665