This species ranges all over southern Africa, up to the Zambezi valley (and including south-west Zambia; see Ansell 1978), Caprivi, and southern Angola littoral. Altitudinal range is from sea level to >2,100 m

There are two subspecies: P. u. griseipes occurs in south-west Zambia, Botswana (Okavango Delta), Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, south of the Zambezi; P. u. ursinus occurs in the remainder of the range, in all provinces in South Africa and throughout Namibia.