This species has been recorded from a wide variety of habitats, ranging from lowland tropical moist forest, into moist savanna, dry savanna, papyrus swamps and marsh. Colonies roost in hollow trees, dense bushes, caves, holes in termite colonies and similar habitats. Colonies range in size from individual and pairs of animals to up to 20 bats.

This species has a wide range, encompassing much of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the Horn of Africa and parts of southern Africa. There is an apparently disjunct population in western Mauritania close to the border with Senegal, and a isolated record from central Mali.

In view of the species wide range it is presumably present in a number of protected areas (including the Udzungwa Mountains National Park of Tanzania [Stanley et al. 2005]). No direct conservation measures are currently needed for this species as a whole.