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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, with the influence of localised rainfall activities being observed in river flows through isolated rises, closing the period under review at 98m3/s as of 5th October 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 79m3/s.

From:
22 September 2026
To:
5 October 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
22-Sept11394
23-Sept11293
24-Sept11191
25-Sept11091
26-Sept10789
27-Sept10588
28-Sept10488
29-Sept10287
30-Sept10085
1-Oct10384
2-Oct10183
3-Oct9982
4-Oct9881
5-Oct9879

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 311m3/s as of 5th October 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 254m3/s.

From:
22 September 2026
To:
5 October 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
22-Sept362295
23-Sept362294
24-Sept359292
25-Sept358288
26-Sept350286
27-Sept346279
28-Sept342276
29-Sept339274
30-Sept327271
1-Oct327270
2-Oct323267
3-Oct315261
4-Oct311258
5-Oct311254

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily decreasing, with isolated localised rainfall activities being observed, closing the period under review at 343m3/s as of 5th October 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 272m3/s.

From:
22 September 2026
To:
5 October 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
22-Sept375319
23-Sept374316
24-Sept374310
25-Sept372306
26-Sept369301
27-Sept368296
28-Sept364294
29-Sept363294
30-Sept344294
1-Oct349289
2-Oct352286
3-Oct352283
4-Oct348278
5-Oct343272