Staff Reporter
A NUMBER of the country’s rivers have experienced a dramatic rise in water levels this year, with some now reaching heights not observed in the past four years — a remarkable milestone following the unusually low levels recorded last year.
The Okavango River at Rundu is among those that have seen significantly high water levels this year. According to the Hydrological Services of Namibia, the river recorded a water level of 7.50 metres (m) on Friday, 25 April 2025. This is notably higher than the 5.51 m recorded on the same day last year. It also exceeds the 6.09 m recorded on 25 April 2023, the 5.60 m recorded on 25 April 2022, and the 4.45 m recorded on 26 April 2021.
The Kunene River has similarly had a remarkable year. The Hydrological Services of Namibia reported that the Kunene River at Ruacana recorded a flow of 1,106.96 cubic metres per second (m³/s) on Friday — a dramatic increase from the 245 m³/s recorded last year on the same day. This year’s flow is also far above the 448.50 m³/s recorded on 25 April 2023, the 300.20 m³/s recorded on 25 April 2022, and, most notably, the 84.30 m³/s recorded on 26 April 2021.
The Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo is also significantly higher than it was at the same time last year. According to the Hydrological Services of Namibia, the river recorded a water level of 5.20 m this Friday — a substantial increase from the 1.42 m recorded on 25 April 2024 and the 4.17 m recorded on 25 April 2023.
However, unlike the Okavango and Kunene rivers, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo has not surpassed the water levels recorded on the same date in 2022 and is only slightly higher than it was in 2021. According to the Hydrological Services, the Zambezi River stood at 5.61 m on 25 April 2022 and 5.19 m on 26 April 2021.
Even the Lower Orange River has experienced elevated water levels this year compared to some previous years. According to the Hydrological Services of Namibia, the Lower Orange River at Blouputs recorded a water level of 2.33 m on Friday, while the river’s level at Sendelingsdrift stood at 2.71 m on the same date.
In comparison, on 24 April 2024, the Lower Orange River’s water levels at Blouputs and Sendelingsdrift stood at just 0.67 m and 0.69 m, respectively. The Hydrological Services further revealed that the river at Blouputs recorded a level of 0.44 m on 25 April 2023. However, the river was significantly higher in 2022, when it reached 5.76 m on the same date.
The Orange River’s water level is expected to continue rising as it receives inflows from upstream dams in South Africa. According to the Hydrological Services of Namibia, water releases have increased at the Vaal Dam, where 10 sluice gates are open, while outflows at Bloemhof have risen to 2,800 m³/s. The Gariep and Van der Kloof dams are overspilling at 108.3% and 106.1%, respectively.
As a result, flows in the Lower Orange River are expected to remain high in the coming weeks. Communities near the river are advised to remain on high alert for potential high river flows and flooding.
