Its range includes southern Namibia and western South Africa, but does not extend into Angola.

It has a rather patchy distribution and may not be able to disperse easily; when a prolonged drought occurred in the Goegap Nature Reserve in 2003, the rat became locally extinct, and the area took about a decade before it was recolonised.

Its habitat is shrubland with soils of sufficient depth for its burrow systems, typically sand dunes, coastal hummocks, gravel flats and the dry floors of valleys.

[3] Littledale's whistling rat is active during the day and feeds on grasses, succulents and other fresh plant material from which it obtains its water.

It constructs extensive burrows under bushes, with several chambers containing shredded vegetation; these are linked by surface tracks which also lead to feeding areas.