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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, closing the period under review at 85m3/s as of 2nd November 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 71m3/s. 

From:
20 September 2026
To:
2 November 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
20-Oct9765
21-Oct9664
22-Oct9664
23-Oct9666
24-Oct9665
25-Oct9464
26-Oct9363
27-Oct9164
28-Oct8766
29-Oct8768
30-Oct8668
31-Oct8768
1-Nov8669
2-Nov8571

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 266m3/s as of 2nd November 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 194m3/s.

From:
20 October 2026
To:
2 November 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
20-Oct285214
21-Oct282214
22-Oct282206
23-Oct280205
24-Oct280203
25-Oct277203
26-Oct276202
27-Oct275199
28-Oct275196
29-Oct275203
30-Oct273206
31-Oct270199
1-Nov268198
2-Nov266194

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 291m3/s as of 2nd November 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 211m3/s.

From:
20 October 2026
To:
2 November 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
20-Oct310230
21-Oct307225
22-Oct306221
23-Oct304225
24-Oct301226
25-Oct296225
26-Oct296223
27-Oct295223
28-Oct297220
29-Oct296219
30-Oct294214
31-Oct294212
1-Nov292212
2-Nov291211