Gasteria batesiana has the most northerly distribution in the genus, occurring east of the inland escarpment from north of the Tukhela (Tugela) River in northern KwaZulu-Natal to the Olifants River Valley in the Limpopo Province. It is found in bushveld (savannah) at elevations from 500 to 700 m, in hot, dry, frost free river valleys in mountainous terrain and the plants are mostly confined to cliff faces. Its habitat consists of shady southern and eastern aspects where it occurs in shallow humus-rich soil (pH 6,8 - 7,1).

Forms

The plants in the field are very variable. From Pongola Dam the late Dave Hardy introduced plants bearing long strap-shaped leaves. The cultivated plants have been given the cultivar name 'Pongola'. David Styles from KwaZulu-Natal discovered similar long leafed plants from the Mzimduzi River near the Mkuze Game Reserve bearing almost smooth leaves. The plants introduced into cultivation have been given the cultivar name 'Mzimduzi'.

The most attractive form of Gasteria batesiana originates from Barberton in Mpumalanga, bearing dark almost black-green triangular-lanceolate leaves. In spite of much searching it has not yet been re-located. However it lives on in cultivation.

Gasteria batesiana var. dolomitica has also fairly recently been named as a form. With very brittle almost cylindric leaves, it grows on dolomite cliffs along the Olifants River in Limpopo province. When the longish linear leaves touch the ground, they spontaneously root forming new plantlets. The leaves are beautifully mottled (white, green, and dark grey), almost like a snake.

Gasteria batesiana is related to G. tukhelensis, another cliff dwelling endemic species of the Tukhela River, just south of G. batesiana territory. Gasteria tukhelensis is a much larger species bearing a branched inflorescence, the flowers are also larger with slender long stalks and with smooth shiny leaves.