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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, with the influence of localised rainfall activities being observed in river flows through isolated rises, closing the period under review at 98m3/s as of 19th October 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was at 66m3/s.

From:
6 October 2026
To:
19 October 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
6-Oct9678
7-Oct9678
8-Oct9478
9-Oct9677
10-Oct9976
11-Oct10076
12-Oct10175
13-Oct10274
14-Oct10172
15-Oct9972
16-Oct9970
17-Oct9968
18-Oct9868
19-Oct9866

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are steadily decreasing, with isolated rises due to the influence of localised rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 282m3/s as of 19th October 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was at 216m3/s.

From:
6 October 2026
To:
19 October 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
6-Oct316252
7-Oct320248
8-Oct315246
9-Oct311244
10-Oct303243
11-Oct303235
12-Oct301234
13-Oct299236
14-Oct299230
15-Oct295228
16-Oct292227
17-Oct287222
18-Oct285220
19-Oct282216

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are steadily decreasing, with isolated localised rainfall activities being observed, closing the period under review at 313m3/s as of 19th October 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was at 233m3/s.

From:
6 October 2026
To:
19 October 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
6-Oct338270
7-Oct334268
8-Oct333264
9-Oct345260
10-Oct340256
11-Oct337254
12-Oct333253
13-Oct329252
14-Oct328247
15-Oct324243
16-Oct321241
17-Oct316240
18-Oct315236
19-Oct313233