Zavala is situated in the south-western expanse of Popovo polje, within the southernmost reaches of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The village of Zavala also encompasses the hamlet of Mareva Ljut, contributing to the diversity and character of this geographical region.

Zavala was part of the medieval župa (county) of Popovo, mentioned in a charter issued by Grand Prince Miroslav of Hum to the Church of St. Peter by the Lim river at the end of 12th century.

Throughout the 15th century, until the region fell to the Ottoman Empire, the Kosača family held possession of Popovo.

[2] The families of Zavala before the Yugoslav wars were the Vukanović, Korać, Čalank, Andrić, Jović, Srba, Šešelj,[3] Tupajić, Turanjanin, Nedić, Vulić.