Land-use changes in villages within the Luki Biosphere Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo have led to an increase in land-surface temperatures. Remote sensing and discussions with local communities showed that built-up and fallow lands experienced the highest temperatures. The conversion of different land types into built-up areas contributed to the rise in temperature. The study predicts further increases in farmland and built-up areas, while forest land will decrease. The findings highlight the impact of land-use changes on land-surface temperatures in the region.