 "Atheris nitschel" is found in forests of the Central African Albertine Rift, in eastern DR Congo, Uganda, western Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.The type locality is listed as ""Mpororosumpf, Deutsch-Ost-Afrika"" [Mpororo swamp, Tanzania-Rwanda border].Preferred habitats of "A. nitschei" are wetland and meadow areas, and elephant grass marshes, along small streams, sometimes in scrub and bush in valleys at higher elevations, and in mountain forests up to the bamboo zone at altitude.