They feed mainly on a wide range of different leaves, weeds, roots, flowers and fruits.

The several species of the genus Kinxys are found across much of tropical and sub-tropical sub-Saharan Africa, ranging as far south as KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and as far north as the fringes of the Sahel and Sahara.

Species of tortoises in the genus Kinixys play host to a number of ectoparasites (external) and endoparasites (internal).

A survey (by Alan Probert & Clive Humphreys) of mixed captive K. spekii and K. belliana (mostly K. spekii) in Zimbabwe showed that the following parasites were known to infest/infect this species.

However some of the tiny roundworms (photographed under scanning electron microscope) are very likely new species and as yet remain undescribed.