How does the rainy season affect the Zambezi River’s water level?

The rainy season, which occurs from November to April, significantly influences the water level and flow of the Zambezi River. During these months, the upper Zambezi receives nearly all of its annual rainfall in the form of intense, short-lived thundershowers.1

This concentrated precipitation accounts for the river's dramatic seasonal variation in flow. The river experiences its maximum discharge in March or April, following the peak of the rainy season. Conversely, as the region enters the dry season, the stream discharge diminishes significantly, falling to less than 10 percent of its maximum by October or November.12