This species is considered Least Concern as it has a wide distribution, occurs in protected areas and is subject to no known threats.

From the west, this species occurs in southern Angola and northern Namibia through northern Botswana, southern Zambia, Zimbabwe (excluding the highlands), south into South Africa (north and eastern parts) through Mozambique, southern Malawi into eastern Tanzania (including the islands of Pemba and Zanzibar) (Branch 1998, Marais 2004, Broadley et al. 2013, Broadley and Blaylock 2013, Spawls et al. 2018). Recorded from sea level up to 1,500.

A widespread, common species which is particularly abundant in mesic environments within its range. This is a commensal species.

This species is found mainly in savanna and cleared areas of former forest, where it is often found foraging around houses (Branch 1998). It is also known from coastal forest and thicket in Tanzania (Spawls et al. 2018). This species is mostly nocturnal and terrestrial; it is nevertheless a good climber, and juveniles are often active during the day (Spawls et al. 2018). It shelters beneath ground cover, in termite hills, or in holes or crevices (Spawls et al. 2018). Females lay clutches of between 10 and 22 eggs in December/January in southern Africa (Spawls et al. 2018) The diet is quite varied; it is fond of amphibians but also takes lizards, rodents, other snakes, and grasshoppers (Branch 1998, Spawls et al. 2018).

There are no known threats to this species.

There is no information on any use or trade in this species. It may be collected for anti-venom production (W. Branch pers. comm. 2014).

This species has been recorded from Kruger National Park (South Africa) and Niassa Game Reserve (Mozambique) and numerous other protected areas across its wide range.