Hydrology Banner

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 decreasing, closing the period under review at 1,137m3/s as of 19th May 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was much lower at 520m3/s.

From:
13 May 2025
To:
19 May 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
13-May1,477614
14-May1,405597
15-May1,331582
16-May1,281567
17-May1,231552
18-May1,185536
19-May1,137520
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are decreasing steadily, closing the period under review at 2,823m3/s as of 19th May 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 948m3/s.

From:
13 May 2025
To:
19 May 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
13-May2,847958
14-May2,842963
15-May2,837973
16-May2,825982
17-May2,825988
18-May2,825997
19-May2,8231,002
ngonye

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station peaked to 2,823m3/s on 17th May 2025, before decreasing steadily to 2,818m3/s at the close of the period under review on 19th May 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 839m3/s.

From:
13 May 2025
To:
19 May 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
13-May2,808797
14-May2,806803
15-May2,808810
16-May2,820819
17-May2,823823
18-May2,820832
19-May2,818839
vic-falls