This is a medium to large cycad with stems which can grow to 4 m long. It is often procumbent with a crown of light to dark green, glossy leaves. It grows singly or in clumps of up to eight stems. It forms numerous suckers from the base and occasional offsets on the trunks. Stems of the Piet Retief form are shorter and stouter.

E.lebomboenesis - Piet Retief form (Photos: Johan Hurter)

The differences between the forms are slight, with the Piet Retief form having narrower leaflets and female cones which are usually solitary, barrel-shaped and greeny- cream, as opposed to more apricot yellow, egg-shaped cones of the Mananga form.

Mananga form of E. lebomboensis (Photos: Johan Hurter)

According the Vorster 1996, the main differences between E. lebomboensis and E. senticosus lie in the different shaped cone scales and that in E. lembonensis both male and female are usually solitary, although female cones are sometimes paired in the Mananga form, whereas E. senticosus has multiple cones. Male cones are sessile in E. lebomboensis, as opposed to having stalks/ peduncles in E. senticosus.

In E. lebomboensis female cones are apricot yellow, or light green and have flat cone scales. They are egg-shaped, (or barrel-shaped in the Piet Retief form), 400-450 mm long, 250-300 mm in diameter. Seedcoats (sarcotesta) are bright red.

Male cones are narrowly cylindrical, about 450 mm long and 120-150 mm in diameter and yellow to apricot in colour. The sporophyll faces are raised, but not drawn out and drooping.