It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, northern South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

[6] Rocky habitats are suitable living spaces because there are many crevices for the hyraxes to nest, and seek shelter from weather and predators.

[5][6][8] Studies have reported bush hyraxes to live in colonies of sometimes hundreds of animals with population densities ranging between 20 and 53 individuals per hectare.

[5] The associations observed between these hyraxes is variable and in Zimbabwe, they often overlap habitats near parturition (the time of giving birth).

[6] The name-giving feature of the yellow-spotted rock hyrax is a dorsal gland located on the lower back beneath a raised skin patch about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long and surrounded by erectile hairs.

[6] The secretions of the gland stain a dorsal spot of reddish-ochre to a dirty white coloration, but most commonly appears yellow.

The bush hyrax is also noted to have a white patch of hair above the eyes, where glandular tissue also occurs.

[6] Additionally they have vibrissae that provide tactile feedback located above the eyes, under the chin, along the back and sides, on the abdomen and on the fore- and hind limbs.

[5] Other noted features include: the Jacobsen's organ which is as a specialized olfactory structure, a compartmentalized stomach into nonglandular cranial and glandular caudal sections, and a vertebral column that is convex from neck to tail.

[5] The bush hyrax also has specialized glands on the pads of their feet that increase their grip which helps them navigate slick rock surfaces.

The urine is so concentrated that is leaves a crystalline residue called klipstreet or hyraceum that is commonly found on the rock outcroppings where they reside.

It has a short, thin appendage within a cup-like glans penis and measures greater than 6 cm when erect.

Breeding seasons are 7–8 months prior to when these peak birth rates have been observed based on length of gestation.

[5] They are born weighing 220 to 230 g (7.8 to 8.1 oz) and are open-eyed, furred, and able to follow adults out of the nest within several hours of birth.

[6] One study reported that a colony of bush hyraxes in Zambia feeds on the leaves of bitter yams.

However, casual feeding also occurs but at shorter distances from living space, up to 20 m, and consists of eating large amounts of food in an average of 20 minutes.

[5] While they are diurnal, 95 percent of the day is spent resting, sun basking in the morning and evening, but avoiding the midday heat.

However, they remain vigilant[5] and the dominant male will keep watch on a high rock and will give a shrill alarm if there is danger.

[8] Colonies of hyraxes include on average 34 individuals, but stable polygamous family groups make up the basic social unit.

Play behavior is generally limited to juveniles and includes fur nipping, biting, climbing, pushing, fighting, chasing, and mounting.

Their keen eyesight and good hearing enables them to be aware of approaching predators or potential threats.

However, there were no visible lesions and no amastigote stage parasites present, thus indicating that the bush hyrax is a reservoir and not a suitable host.