The Cape ground squirrel is found in most of the drier parts of southern Africa from South Africa, through to Botswana, and into Namibia. The name Cape ground squirrel is somewhat misleading as it actually has a much wider area of habitation. This common name may have been arrived at to distinguish it from a tree squirrel (the Eastern Grey Squirrel) found around Cape Town, which was imported from Europe by Cecil John Rhodes.