They extend north only as far as Malawi. It is an inhabitant of both savanna, mountainous and arid areas, and occurs marginally on open grassland. The size of their home ranges is determined by water availability and access to permanent water is an essential habitat requirement. They are omnivorous but predominantly vegetarian. Their diet consists mostly of fruit, leaves, grasses, bulbs, tubers and flowers, but they also eat insects, lizards, bird's eggs and even new-born antelope.
Males sometimes eat the young of displaced or deceased males.
They are very gregarious and live in troops which may number over 100 individuals. They have an exceptionally complex dominance hierarchy that established by fighting and maintained by staring, displaying of teeth and chasing. Large troops may contain several large, high-ranking males who share in the troop's offensive and defensive actions and who are the most successful with regards to mating. When threatened, the subordinate animals, females and young group together protected by the dominant males, with other males on the periphery. They are often seen in association with other herbivores and sleep at night either on rocky cliffs or in tall trees.