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 in recession, closing the period under review at 72m3/s as of 15th October 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 57m3/s.

From:
2 October 2025
To:
15 October 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
2-Oct8363
3-Oct8263
4-Oct8162
5-Oct7961
6-Oct7861
7-Oct7863
8-Oct7862
9-Oct7761
10-Oct7661
11-Oct7660
12-Oct7560
13-Oct7459
14-Oct7257
15-Oct7257
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are receding, with isolated records of fluctuation due to the influence of local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 228m3/s as of 15th October 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 196m3/s.

From:
2 October 2025
To:
15 October 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
2-Oct267196
3-Oct261199
4-Oct258195
5-Oct254194
6-Oct252193
7-Oct248191
8-Oct246195
9-Oct244191
10-Oct243189
11-Oct235186
12-Oct234183
13-Oct236183
14-Oct230183
15-Oct228196
ngonye

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are in recession, closing the period under review at 243m3/s as of 15th October 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 197m3/s.

From:
2 October 2025
To:
15 October 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
2-Oct286217
3-Oct283213
4-Oct278203
5-Oct272202
6-Oct270202
7-Oct268203
8-Oct264203
9-Oct260203
10-Oct256200
11-Oct254199
12-Oct253198
13-Oct252196
14-Oct247197
15-Oct243197
vic-falls