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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 115m3/s as of 8th September 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 85m3/s.

From:
26 August 2025
To:
8 September 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
26-Aug143105
27-Aug141102
28-Aug139101
29-Aug13799
30-Aug13497
31-Aug13196
1-Sep13093
2-Sep12793
3-Sep12591
4-Sep12290
5-Sep11988
6-Sep11887
7-Sep11686
8-Sep11585
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are receding, closing the period under review at 354m3/s as of 8th September 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 263m3/s.

From:
26 August 2025
To:
8 September 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
26-Aug427310
27-Aug422308
28-Aug413303
29-Aug409301
30-Aug400295
31-Aug395294
1-Sep392288
2-Sep385284
3-Sep378282
4-Sep370277
5-Sep365276
6-Sep363269
7-Sep356266
8-Sep354263
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 377m3/s as of 8th September 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 285m3/s.

From:
26 August 2025
To:
8 September 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
26-Aug448326
27-Aug439324
28-Aug432320
29-Aug427317
30-Aug424313
31-Aug417309
1-Sep411306
2-Sep405303
3-Sep402298
4-Sep394294
5-Sep385291
6-Sep383289
7-Sep379287
8-Sep377285
vic-falls