Banded mongooses are found in Africa, south of the Sahara, except for the Congo and southwestern Africa. They live in open habitat in grasslands, brush lands, woodlands and rocky country. They have a large range and may travel more than 5 miles a day to forage.
Unlike many mongoose species, banded mongooses are social and live in packs that average around 10 to 20 individuals, but can have as many as 40 individuals. There is one dominant male in the pack.
When a predator approaches banded mongooses, they bunch together and move as a group, creating the appearance of a single large animal. The individuals in front may even stand on their hind legs and make snapping lunges toward the predator.