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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 rising steadily as the rainfall season progresses, closing the period under review at 723m3/s as of 26th January 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 197m3/s.

From:
13 January 2026
To:
26 January 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
13-Jan399180
14-Jan428182
15-Jan443183
16-Jan465182
17-Jan475181
18-Jan511181
19-Jan557183
20-Jan585186
21-Jan613186
22-Jan677184
23-Jan688186
24-Jan704192
25-Jan713210
26-Jan723197

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing with records of fluctuation being observed due to the influence of local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 754m3/s as of 26th January 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 516m3/s.

From:
13 January 2026
To:
26 January 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
13-Jan616421
14-Jan626422
15-Jan638425
16-Jan641431
17-Jan650436
18-Jan668444
19-Jan674450
20-Jan675457
21-Jan706471
22-Jan703472
23-Jan707483
24-Jan716500
25-Jan749502
26-Jan754516

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

From:
13 January 2026
To:
26 January 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
13-Jan542378
14-Jan563397
15-Jan605401
16-Jan627415
17-Jan651420
18-Jan658431
19-Jan674441
20-Jan697458
21-Jan717466
22-Jan748527
23-Jan775517
24-Jan790538
25-Jan828547
26-Jan829547