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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 increasing again steadily as the rainfall season progresses, closing the period under review at 2,969m3/s as of 6th March 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 2,085m3/s.

From:
21 February 2026
To:
6 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-Feb2,6181,673
22-Feb2,6191,661
23-Feb2,6191,673
24-Feb2,6511,740
25-Feb2,7181,821
26-Feb2,7861,906
27-Feb2,8211,964
28-Feb2,8441,964
1-Mar2,8791,982
2-Mar2,8602,009
3-Mar2,8102,039
4-Mar2,8252,062
5-Mar2,9182,078
6-Mar2,9692,085

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing, closing the period under review at 3,289m3/s as of 6th March 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 973m3/s.

 

From:
21 February 2026
To:
6 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-Feb1,126713
22-Feb1,151740
23-Feb1,196752
24-Feb1,243766
25-Feb1,311780
26-Feb1,390812
27-Feb1,481813
28-Feb1,628841
1-Mar1,791860
2-Mar1,991877
3-Mar2,232890
4-Mar2,536926
5-Mar2,871946
6-Mar3,289973

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are increasing again as rainfall season progresses, closing the period under review at 1,357m3/s as of 6th March 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 822m3/s.

From:
21 February 2026
To:
6 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
21-Feb971624
22-Feb988650
23-Feb1,006664
24-Feb1,030680
25-Feb1,065692
26-Feb1,102705
27-Feb1,124719
28-Feb1,159727
1-Mar1,188721
2-Mar1,216752
3-Mar1,228769
4-Mar1,421787
5-Mar1,323805
6-Mar1,357822