In South Africa, it grows from Limpopo Province is South Africa's northernmost province which shares borders with Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana, making it the ideal entrance to Africa and Beaufort West in the Northern Cape to the Free State (which borders the land-locked enclave of Lesotho), and south and east to the Eastern Cape.

This aloe grows on rocky slopes in hilly and mountainous areas, at an altitude of between 1000 and 2000 metres above sea level.

The most notable feature of this plant is its odd inflorescence, where the flowers are hidden by the extended bracts, giving it a sinuous, snake-like appearance, hence its name.

Like other aloes, this plant attracts a wide variety of pollinators, including insects such as bees, wasps and ants, and bird species such as sunbirds.

Farmers use it as an disinfectant, an ear remedy for sheep, and a pesticide to purge ticks from livestock.