Angler & Antelope Guesthouse, Somerset East, Eastern Cape

Virtual Tours

The Angler and Antelope guesthouse and B&B is situated centrally in the town of Somerset East.  The location of the guesthouse (B&B) makes access to the fishing waters around the town of Somerset East hassle free. 

Click here for a useful fact sheet about the Angler & Antelope.

Somerset East is a gem on the edge of the Karoo, with four biomes within 20 km of the town; Karoo, savannah, grassveldt and indigenous forests.  The microclimate induced by the Boschberg mountain ensures that an unusual amount (for the Karoo anyway) of rain falls annually.  This is great for fly-fishing enthusiasts, as it makes Somerset East an exceptionally good fishing spot for trout.  

Experience wild fly fishing in the Karoo.  Alan Hobson, our inhouse R.E.F.F.I.S. accredited fly fishing guide, has secured exclusive access to certain waters in the area.  He stocks these streams and dams with trout.  The trout are stocked as fry and fingerlings, and left to fend for themselves, which ensures your wild fly fishing in the Karoo.  However, trout is not the only species that you can target whilst fly fishing.  The river system surrounding Somerset East boasts six more fish species that can by caught on fly; indigenous yellow fish and moggel, as well as barbel, carp, mudfish and black bass.

This diversity in landscape ensures  an equal diversity in animal and bird life; over 350 species of birds can be found in and around the Boschberg.   The list of endemic birds recorded includes 53 Southern African endemics and 33 near endemics.  The raptor enthusiast can see a selection of 33 birds of prey, including 9 species of eagle.  There are many rare and interesting plant species on the Boschberg, including Dierama grandiflorum (Hairbells), Kniphofia acraea (Red Hot Poker), Disa lugens (Orchid) and Haemanthus carneus (Paint brush).  The Haemanthus carneus is only found in the Somerset East area, in Acacia thicket and grassland.

The town of Somerset East was established in 1825, and as such there is a rich history in the area, which can be explored by visiting the many historical monuments, as well as the Somerset East Museum.

The Angler and Antelope consists of the four star graded guesthouse, and St Francis culinary centre.