This species is common in Africa, occurring from Ethiopia to Botswana, with an isolated subspecies E. a. axillaris present in Mozambique and south-eastern South Africa. The subspecies E. a. bocagei occurs in southern Africa only in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, and the associated rivers of the Okavango, Kwando, Zambezi and Chobe in Namibia. It occupies an area of 12,400 km2 in Namibia, of which 21% is contained within the Bwabwata and Nkasa Rupara (Mamili) national parks. It prefers moist open grassland, but is also found in reeds and papyrus.