this cycad is endemic to south africa. it occurs in the qumbu and tabankulu areas of the eastern cape province, and in a large part of kwazulu-natal, including the catchment areas of the mkuze river and the umfolozi river. it is found at altitudes of up to , but seldom close to the coast. it grows on rocky outcrops, south-facing cliffs or steep scarp slopes in forests. an easy place to see this species is in the gorge below the howick falls, where its palm-like fronds contrast with the surrounding broad-leaved trees. another location is the valley of a thousand hills, where a group of the trees has been declared a "national monument".