This species inhabits dry forest and dry Sudanese and Sudanese-Sahelian savanna (Trape et al. 2012). It ranges into Guinean moist savanna, but is less common in this habitat than C. gracilis, the typical chameleon of humid West African savanna (Trape et al. 2012). Reports of this species from humid lowland forest (Leaché 2006, Gonwou 2002, Schmidt 1919) are likely to be incorrect and to refer to C. gracilis (M-O. Rödel pers. comm. 2012). It can be abundant in both towns and villages, where this arboreal lizard favours introduced Neem trees along roads and paths (Trape et al. 2012). It is diurnal and feeds on insects and other arthropods (Trape et al. 2012).

This species is very widely distributed in the savannas and dry forests of West Africa, ranging from Senegal to Nigeria (Trape et al. 2012). Records from further east, including Cameroon and Chad, are attributable to C. laevigatus, formerly a subspecies of this form. Records also exist for the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Cote d'Ivôire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Benin (Trape et al. 2012), as well as southwestern Niger. It ranges from sea level to 1,900 m asl.

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II. In places its distribution coincides with protected areas. Further research on harvest levels and monitoring of population trends are needed.