African Geese are one of the heavy breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association's Standard. They were first recognized in 1874 and are presently accepted in Brown (or Gray) and White. The African should be of about the same size as the Embden, except in the case of the young goose, which may be a couple pounds lighter in weight. The African is the outcome of a cross between the Toulouse, and the Brown Chinese

Africans can be differentiated from Chinese by their heavy bodies and thick necks. Mature birds have a large, forward-projecting knob above their beaks. The bill and knob are black in the Brown form and orange in the White African.

Africans are the leanest of the heavy breeds and are popular for this reason. An adult gander and goose should weigh in at 20 and 18 pounds, respectively.