This species is found in coastal, stony and sandy areas with scarce vegetation. It also occurs on stony plains with no vegetation. In these areas it rarely rains but is always humid, especially in the winter. The extreme conditions in which it lives means that populations of this shrew remain small.

This North African species has been recorded from Morocco (south of Agadir), Western Sahara and Mauritania. Much of the information available on the distribution of Crocidura tarfayensis is from old records; surveys undertaken since 1980 have failed to find a live specimen, but owl pellets and dead specimens have been collected. This species was recorded as C. whitakeri from the Western Sahara (Heim de Balsac 1968).

There are no direct conservation measures in place for this species. It is not known if the species is present within any protected areas. Additional surveys are needed to better determine the current conservation status of this species.