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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 511m3/s as of 18th January 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 181m3/s.

From:
5 January 2026
To:
18 January 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
5-Jan259150
6-Dec272153
7-Dec283158
8-Dec298165
9-Dec325171
10-Dec341178
11-Dec351179
12-Dec384178
13-Dec399180
14-Jan428182
15-Jan443183
16-Jan465182
17-Jan475181
18-Jan511181

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing with records of fluctuation being observed due to local rainfall activity, closing the period under review at 668m3/s as of 18th January 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 444m3/s.

From:
5 January 2026
To:
18 January 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
5-Jan552359
6-Jan559388
7-Jan563359
8-Jan576369
9-Jan577370
10-Jan589375
11-Jan602389
12-Jan612390
13-Jan616421
14-Jan626422
15-Jan638425
16-Jan641431
17-Jan650436
18-Jan668444

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 658m3/s as of 18th January 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 431m3/s.

From:
5 January 2026
To:
18 January 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
5-Jan525320
6-Jan529321
7-Jan527325
8-Jan521351
9-Jan517351
10-Jan517347
11-Jan519349
12-Jan535356
13-Jan542378
14-Jan563397
15Jan605401
16-Jan627415
17-Jan651420
18-Jan658431