Staff Reporter
WATER levels in the Orange and Zambezi rivers were higher in January 2026 than in January 2025, while the Kavango and Kunene rivers experienced a decline compared with last year.
This was highlighted in the Hydrological Services of Namibia’s Flood Report, which indicates that the Orange River at Blouputs recorded a water level of 1.92 m on Friday, 9 January 2026, higher than the 0.61 m recorded on 9 January 2025 and 1.27 m recorded on 9 January 2024. Meanwhile, the Orange River at Sendelingsdrift stood at 2.10 m on Friday, 9 January 2026, compared with 0.16 m on 9 January 2025.
In the north-eastern parts of the country, the Zambezi River also performed better this year than last. The Hydrological Services of Namibia revealed that the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo, which stood at 0.91 m on Friday, 9 January 2026, is much higher than it was last year on the same date, when it stood at 0.33 m. However, this year’s level is not higher than that of 2024, when the river stood at 1.03 m on 9 January.
In contrast to the Orange and Zambezi rivers, the Okavango River’s water levels are lower this year than on the same dates in 2025 and 2024. According to the Hydrological Services of Namibia, the Okavango River at Rundu stood at 4.88 m on 9 January 2026 – down from 5.72 m in 2025 and 4.93 m in 2024.
Similarly, the Okavango River at Divundu also recorded lower levels compared with previous years. The Hydrological Services of Namibia reported a water level of 3.05 m on 9 January 2026, a decline from 3.36 m in 2025 and 3.28 m in 2024.
Photo: Sandfontein Lodge & Nature Reserve, South Namibia
