Soutpansberg and escarpment of eastern South Africa and western Swaziland, south through midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to Eastern Cape (around East London).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Drakensberg Prinia (Prinia hypoxantha) [XC382425]
by Murray Christian from Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality (near Harrismith), Thabo Mofutsanyane, Free State, South Africa (call)
Drakensberg Prinia (Prinia hypoxantha) [XC517625]
by Frank Lambert from Wakkerstroom \, South Africa (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Prinia maculosa (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Karoo Prinia (Prinia maculosa) and Drakensberg Prinia (Prinia hypoxantha) following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993).
Forms a superspecies with Karoo Prinia (Prinia maculosa). Often considered conspecific, but little evidence of intergradation where the two meet (other than around Mt Currie, in East Griqualand).