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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, with records of fluctuations being observed due to the influence of local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 208m3/s as of 29th December 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 119m3/s. 

From:
16 December 2025
To:
29 December 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
16-Dec13989
17-Dec14292
18-Dec14495
19-Dec15093
20-Dec15495
21-Dec15996
22-Dec16399
23-Dec168104
24-Dec173107
25-Dec179109
26-Dec197113
27-Dec204113
28-Dec203118
29-Dec208119

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing with records of fluctuation being observed due to local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 494m3/s as of 29th December 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 302m3/s.

From:
30 December 2025
To:
30 December 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
16-Dec395295
17-Dec375294
18-Dec398299
19-Dec406298
20-Dec411292
21-Dec413296
22-Dec420296
23-Dec422300
24-Dec427298
25-Dec439300
26-Dec461303
27-Dec476301
28-Dec499303
29-Dec494302

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily rising, closing the period under review at 483m3/s as of 29th December 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 296m3/s.

From:
16 December 2025
To:
29 December 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
16-Dec364271
17-Dec398273
18-Dec396285
19-Dec397294
20-Dec409293
21-Dec409297
22-Dec417293
23-Dec425292
24-Dec436292
25-Dec438292
26-Dec453289
27-Dec471292
28-Dec477303
29-Dec483296