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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 78m3/s as of 7th October 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 63m3/s.

From:
24 September 2025
To:
7 October 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
24-Sep9165
25-Sep9164
26-Sep8964
27-Sep8865
28-Sep8864
29-Sep8764
30-Sep9468
1-Oct8463
2-Oct8363
3-Oct8263
4-Oct8162
5-Oct7961
6-Oct7861
7-Oct7863
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are receding, closing the period under review at 248m3/s as of 7th October 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 191m3/s.

From:
24 September 2025
To:
7 October 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
24-Sep292223
25-Sep288222
26-Sep286220
27-Sep279215
28-Sep276211
29-Sep274211
30-Sep271205
1-Oct270201
2-Oct267196
3-Oct261199
4-Oct258195
5-Oct254194
6-Oct252193
7-Oct248191
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 268m3/s as of 7th October 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 203m3/s.

From:
24 September 2025
To:
7 October 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
24-Sep310240
25-Sep306238
26-Sep301238
27-Sep296238
28-Sep294235
29-Sep294228
30-Sep294227
1-Oct289222
2-Oct286217
3-Oct283213
4-Oct278203
5-Oct272202
6-Oct270202
7-Oct268203
vic-falls