In East Africa, most records are from coastal thicket, woodland and moist savanna, although it occurs in more varied habitats elsewhere (Spawls et al. 2002), including dry forest and semi-desert (Spawls et al. 2002), highveld grassland and coastal bush (Branch 1998). Animals shelter beneath cover items such as stones or in termitaria (Branch 1998), emerging onto the surface on wet nights (Branch 1998). Bites are common, with most victims being bitten close to their homes in rural areas (Spawls et al. 2002), suggesting that this species may be somewhat tolerant of anthropogenic habitats. Females lay 3–7 eggs (Branch 1998) and the snake preys mostly on rodents, shrews, burrowing skinks, snakes and worm lizards (Spawls et al. 2002).

This species has a large distribution through East Africa (Spawls et al. 2002), north as far as Afgoi in southern Somalia (Lanza 1990). It is widespread in Tanzania (including Zanzibar, but with few records from the country's centre and north), eastern Burundi and southeast Rwanda, and ranges to southwest Angola and south to the northern Eastern Cape of South Africa (Spawls et al. 2002). In Kenya it is known only from the southeastern coastal strip north as far as Lamu, with a single inland record from Kitui (Spawls et al. 2002) and an unverified report from the Masai Mara (Spawls et al. 2018). It is found from sea level to 1,800 m asl.

This species presumably occurs in protected areas within its wide range. It is unknown whether any conservation measures are required.