Hydrology Banner

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 rising steadily, with records of fluctuations being observed due to the influence of local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 168m3/s as of 23rd December 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 104m3/s.

From:
10 December 2025
To:
23 December 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
10-Dec12696
11-Dec12596
12-Dec12794
13-Dec13092
14-Dec13192
15-Dec13091
16-Dec13989
17-Dec14292
18-Dec14495
19-Dec15093
20-Dec15495
21-Dec15996
22-Dec16399
23-Dec168104

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing with records of fluctuation being observed due to local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 422m3/s as of 23rd December 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 300m3/s.

From:
10 December 2025
To:
23 December 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
10-Dec358290
11-Dec358290
12-Dec370296
13-Dec356298
14-Dec375298
15-Dec388298
16-Dec395295
17-Dec375294
18-Dec398299
19-Dec406298
20-Dec411292
21-Dec413296
22-Dec420296
23-Dec422300

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily rising, closing the period under review at 425m3/s as of 23rd December 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 292m3/s.

From:
10 December 2025
To:
23 December 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
10-Dec338254
11-Dec341260
12-Dec341262
13-Dec344265
14-Dec353269
15-Dec359269
16-Dec364271
17-Dec398273
18-Dec396285
19-Dec397294
20-Dec409293
21-Dec409297
22-Dec417293
23-Dec425292