Noltea africana is a shrub or small bushy tree, that grows 2–6 m tall, depending on the climate and condition of the area. The stem is slender with brown bark. Branchlets are purplish red and the leaf stalks are reddish. The leaves are simple, leathery, alternate, elliptic to oblong with a narrowly rounded apex and a finely toothed margin, and are glossy dark green above and paler beneath.

The flowers are very small, 3 mm in diameter, fragrant, and are borne in loose clusters in the axils of the leaves in winter to spring (July–September). The flower buds are purple and open white. The fruits are very small brown woody capsules, 10 mm in diameter, that open to release black seeds in early summer.