Inhabits open miombo (Brachystegia) woodland interspersed with savannas, mainly from areas with ferralitic soils and relatively high, but seasonal rainfall (Crawford-Cabral 2013).

Recorded from Angola, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia (Crawford-Cabral 2013). Until recently the northernmost record was believed to come from “Turu” (Singida area, central Tanzania; specimen collected in 1904 and held by the MfN, Berlin), which although regarded as questionable by Schlawe (1980), has since been confirmed by P. Gaubert (pers. obs. 2003). However, several camera-trapping surveys have greatly expanded this species's known range. For example, Fischer et al. (2013) recently recorded the presence of Miombo Genet at a similar or possibly higher latitude, in Mlele Beekeeping Zone, north of Katavi N. P., as well as in the northern part of Rukwa G. R. More generally, there are now records throughout the Miombo woodland as far north as Moyowosi G. R. (Foley et al. 2014). In the SE the species is notably present in Selous G. R. It also occurs in the coastal bushland around Sadaani N. P., as well as in the northwest of Lindi, in Rungo F. R. (Foley et al. 2014).

Known to be present in several protected areas.