The Mali cobra occurs in both tropical and subtropical grasslands, open forests, savannas, and shrublands.

[2] This species geographic range's from Senegal to Cameroon, with recorded sightings in Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, far northern Guinea, Southern Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Northern Ghana, Togo, Southwestern Niger and Nigeria.

Mali cobras will take shelter under logs, rocks or in holes when inactive.

If disturbed it will escape to cover with haste, but if cornered, will rear up and spread its small, narrow hood.

The venom consists of postsynaptic neurotoxins and cardiotoxins that cause cytotoxic activity.