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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 decreasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,523m3/s as of 22nd April 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was much lower at 897m3/s.

From:
16 April 2025
To:
22 April 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
16-Apr3,019736
17-Apr2,916764
18-Apr2,803789
19-Apr2,692816
20-Apr2,682839
21-Apr2,601865
22-Apr2,523897
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,673m3/s as of 22nd April 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 788m3/s.

From:
16 April 2025
To:
22 April 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
16-Apr2,580771
17-Apr2,596783
18-Apr2,626783
19-Apr2,629782
20-Apr2,633782
21-Apr2,650793
22-Apr2,673788
ngonye

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are increasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,323m3/s on 22nd April 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 694m3/s.

From:
16 April 2025
To:
22 April 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
16-Apr2,165700
17-Apr2,182695
18-Apr2,223694
19-Apr2,275697
20-Apr2,273697
21-Apr2,297695
22-Apr2,323694
vic-falls