The African Civet is a common viverrid that ranges across tropical Africa. Unlike many other members of the family, which resemble cats, the African Civet resembles a short dog-like animal. Its coarse coat varies but is usually an ornate pattern of black and white contrasting bands and blotches, with a white face mask and black eye patches (like that of a raccoon) and a pale muzzle. Like all civets it has perianal glands that produces a fluid known as civetone (used in the perfume industry), which it spreads on markers in its territory to claim its range.

The African Civet ranges across Sub-Saharan Africa (except Somalia) and most of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It lives it forests, both dense rainforest, or in partly forested mosaics, as well as in drier country were cover exists (along watercourses or rock outcroppings).

The African Civet forages by itself, and is a mostly solitary animal that avoids the presence of others of its species.