Possibly the most widespread galago species, ranging from Senegal in the west, through the savanna and open woodland of Africa, to Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia in the east and Kenya and Tanzania in the south. The southern limit of distribution is probably the Rufiji River. The area of sympatry with G. moholi in central and southern Tanzania and with G. gallarum in central Kenya has yet to be defined and requires investigation.

There are four subspecies:

The subspecies G. s. senegalensis ranges from Senegal in the west through to Sudan and western Uganda.

G. s. braccatus is known from a number of districts in Kenya, and from north-east and north-central Tanzania (T. Butynski and Y. de Jong pers. comm.).

The subspecies G. s. dunni is found in Somalia and the Ogaden region of Ethiopia.

G. s. sotikae is confined to the southern shores of Lake Victoria (Tanzania) where it is found from western Serengeti, to Mwanza (Tanzania) to Ankole (southern Uganda).

In general, the limits of distribution between the four subspecies are not well known, and not indicated on the map.