Mimusops afra is a small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m high. In an exposed habitat it forms a shrub. The bark is dark grey, thin and wrinkled longitudinally. The young stems are densely covered with long, rust-coloured hairs. The wood is reddish, closely grained, heavy, hard, strong and elastic.

The leaves are obovate to obovate-oblong, 30-70 x 15-40 mm. They are stiffly leathery, without hairs and blue-green above. They are paler green with white, silvery or yellowish silky hairs below. The apex is round and frequently notched. The leaf margin is entire and strongly rolled under. The petiole is up to 15 mm long. The flower has rust-coloured, haired sepals; petals are white to cream shaped like a star. The flowers are on slender stalks in auxiliary groups of 2 to 4. The fruits are fleshy, bright orange-red when mature. They are edible and pleasantly sweet.