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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 receding, closing the period under review at 207m3/s as of 5th August 2025, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 146m3/s.

From:
23 July 2025
To:
5 August 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
23-Jul255176
24-Jul252173
25-Jul248171
26-Jul245169
27-Jul240167
28-Jul235164
29-Jul232161
30-Jul228159
31-Jul224157
1-Aug221154
2-Aug217151
3-Aug214149
4-Aug209147
5-Aug207146
chavuma

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are receding, closing the period under review at 590m3/s as of 5th August 2025. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 390m3/s.

From:
23 July 2025
To:
5 August 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
23-Jul786451
24-Jul761448
25-Jul750440
26-Jul730436
27-Jul715435
28-Jul700431
29-Jul677421
30-Jul663421
31-Jul650418
1-Aug638413
2-Aug625411
3-Aug609402
4-Aug599395
5-Aug590390
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 648m3/s as of 5th August 2025.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 397m3/s.

From:
23 July 2025
To:
5 August 2025
DateFlow (m3/s)(2024/25)Flow (m3/s)(2023/24)
23-Jul963448
24-Jul942446
25-Jul904443
26-Jul873441
27-Jul840437
28-Jul814433
29-Jul788430
30-Jul764420
31-Jul744417
1-Aug721413
2-Aug701407
3-Aug675404
4-Aug665401
5-Aug648397
vic-falls