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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 steadily increasing, peaking to 2,742m3/s on 25th March 2025, before decreasing to 2,632m3/s as of 27th March 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was much lower at 383m3/s.

From:
21 March 2025
To:
27 March 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-Mar2,538375
22-Mar2,677378
23-Mar2,722378
24-Mar2,742377
25-Mar2,731379
26-Mar2,697380
27-Mar2,632383
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,246m3/s as of 27th March 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 703m3/s.

From:
21 March 2025
To:
27 March 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-Mar2,142772
22-Mar2,179764
23-Mar2,201752
24-Mar2,221747
25-Mar2,237740
26-Mar2,239736
27-Mar2,246730
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 1,447m3/s on 27th March 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 695m3/s.

From:
21 March 2025
To:
27 March 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-Mar1,123738
22-Mar1,160729
23-Mar1,216721
24-Mar1,271714
25-Mar1,325708
26-Mar1,385703
27-Mar1,447695
vic-falls