The African goose is a massive bird. Its heavy body, thick neck, stout bill, and jaunty posture give the impression of strength and vitality.The plumage of the colored variety is a combination of browns, buffs, grays, and white. A dark brown stripe runs over the crown of the head and down the back of the neck. On mature birds, a narrow band of whitish feathers separates the satin-black bill and knob from the brown head. The legs and feet are dark orange to brownish orange. The White African has pure white plumage, an orange bill and knob, and bright orange shanks and feet.
A mature African goose has a large knob attached to its forehead, which requires several years to develop. African geese can withstand considerable cold weather but need shelter to protect their knobs from frostbite.