The mission of the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) is to increase understanding of the natural environment and life in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean through appropriate science and technology.

This is necessary in order to optimize present and preserve future options for South Africa in the region and to enhance predictive capability in areas of relevance nationally and internationally, and will also ensure that South Africa remains party to informed decisionmaking on matters of national interest.

South Africa maintains bases at Antarctica as well as on Marion and Gough Islands managed and administered by the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEA&T).

At the Antarctic base, SANAE IV, the field of research is varied. There are programmes which provide for upper air research (e.g. cosmic rays) and others again which cover the earth sciences (e.g. geology). The base is situated at 71° 40' S 2° 51' W.

At Gough Island (40° 21' S 9° 52' W) meteorological observations are made. Marion Island (46° 52' S 37° 51' E), was at first purely a meteorological station. Research programmes are currently also being undertaken in the fields of oceanography, biology and geology.