The body is covered with hair that is woollier and curlier than that of other antelopes. The upper parts are brownish gray, the face and legs are yellowish, and the underparts of the body and tail are white. Pelea may be readily distinguished by its long, pointed, erect ears and by the absence of a bare patch below the ear. The horns, borne only by males, are straight, upright, and 200-250 mm in length.
Females have four mammae.
The rhebok lives among rocks and tangled growth on mountain sides and plateaus, but where protected, it will venture to grassy valleys. It probably frequented such valleys regularly before being driven out by human activity. It has a jerky gait resembling that of a rocking horse and is agile, fleet, and a good jumper. The tail is carried erect, so the white undersurface is conspicuous. It is a browser.