It is quite difficult to simply characterize the Albany Thicket, the most recently described vegetation type, as separate biome (formally recognized in 1996 by Low & Rebelo), because of its transitional character. Thicket is a closed shrubland to low forest dominated by evergreen, sclerophyllous or succulent trees, shrubs and vines, many of which have stem spines. It is characterized by having large succulent plants. It is often almost impenetrable, is generally not divided into strata, and has little herbaceous cover. Because the vegetation types within the “Thicket Biome” share floristic components with many other biomes, Thicket types contain few endemics, most of which are succulents of Karoo origin.

In general, Albany thicket is easily distinguished from the complex mosaic of surrounding ecoregions as a dense, spiny shrubland rising about 2 to 2.5 m, dominated by succulents (mainly of Karooid affinity).