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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 steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 1,148m3/s as of 11th May 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 1,655m3/s.

From:
28 April 2026
To:
11 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
28-Apr17532936
29-Apr16823065
30-Apr16283103
1-May15743074
2-May15292971
3-May14812842
4-May14302695
5-May13852584
6-May13382441
7-May12972296
8-May12552070
9-May12121955
10-May11791798
11-May11481655

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, closing the period under review at 3,162m3/s as of 11th May 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 2,880m3/s.

From:
28 April 2026
To:
11 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
28-Apr35642934
29-Apr35412970
30-Apr35182999
1-May34953009
2-May34693014
3-May34413009
4-May34162987
5-May33902982
6-May33652960
7-May33172941
8-May32672929
9-May32392912
10-May32022883
11-May31622880

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 3,526m3/s as of 11th May 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 2,773m3/s.

From:
28 April 2026
To:
11 May 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
28-Apr36972483
29-Apr36942498
30-Apr36842514
1-May36612539
2-May36482559
3-May36382582
4-May36232612
5-May36102635
6-May36072658
7-May35872690
8-May35692706
9-May35592752
10-May35442759
11-May35262773