Lapalala is situated 50 km to the north-north-east of the town of Vaalwater and 100 km west of Polokwane in Limpopo Province. It falls in the Waterberg, which is a mountainous region that stretches from Bela Bela in the south to Lephalale in the north, and from Thabazimbi in the west to Mokopane in the east.

Lapalala covers approximately 36,000 ha and is located between latitude 230 44' - 230 57' South and longitude 280 09' - 280 25' East. Its position in relation to the Marakele National Park, and other provincial and private nature reserves and game farms within the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, is of great relevance to conservation management.