African tree snake is a medium-sized yellow-jawed snake with a body length of about 1.5 to 2 meters. Its scales with obvious scaly ridges are arranged obliquely. The African tree snake has relatively large eyes and a short head, so its large rear fangs are quite close to the front of the mouth.

The body color of the African tree snake is also diverse, and the snake is bright green, brown or black. Some are of the same color all over, while others are jagged with spots, patches or stripes. The back of the young snake is gray or brown, the color of the body is lighter, and the ventral surface and lips are white.