LEVISON Wood is telling Weekend about one of his experiences while rafting in South Sudan.

Like most of his expeditions, it involves tales of life or death situations. But what is perhaps more astonishing than the 34-year-old’s adventures is the way he takes it all in his stride. Even when a gun is being pointed at his head.

“The tribe there didn’t know what we were doing so they backed us off the rafts and held us at gunpoint and threatened to shoot us,” said Levison.

“But these things happen. We managed to talk our way out of it. It doesn’t put me off. You just have to try avoid these situations wherever you can. I don’t go looking for trouble but it sometimes finds me.”

Over the years Levison has also been chased by crocodiles and hippos, fallen off a mountain and been arrested more times than he can remember. But the former paratrooper’s taste for adventure has never faltered.

“I think it’s just a love of exploration and seeing the world,” added Levison, who has visited more than 80 countries.

“Obviously it doesn’t come without its costs and there are lots of risks attached to it but I’d rather do that and live my life than have a safe life and be bored to tears.”

Levison’s love of the outdoors came from growing up on the edge of the Peak District. In his gap year he travelled to South Africa and India and then after graduating from the University of Nottingham with a history degree he hitch-hiked all the way from the UK to India.

Levison said: “That was an amazing experience. I went to places like Afghanistan and Iran and that inspired me to go places you wouldn’t normally think of going to.”

A sense of duty called before he became a fully fledged explorer though.

He added: “My grandad fought in the Second World War. I grew up with his stories and I wanted to do my bit.”

Levison joined the Parachute Regiment in April 2006 and became accustomed to the huge risks almost straight away when his vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. He was made a captain in 2008 as he fought against Taliban.

Levison said: “It was hard work, it was very dangerous at times but I enjoyed it. You’re doing a job you’re trained for. It sounds strange to say I enjoyed it but I did. It was the most exciting, intense period of my life.”

Levison left the paras in 2010 after five years.

He added: “I’d been to Afghanistan and I’d become an instructor so I was training new recruits so I kind of did everything that I wanted to do. I wanted a new challenge so that’s why I left back in 2010. I’m still in the reserves now so I still do a bit of time but I wanted a new challenge and I’d always loved travelling so I went back to my roots really.”

Since then Levison has become well known for his adventures on a grand scale that have been documented by Channel 4. He has walked the length of the Nile and the Himalayas and more recently trekked 1,800 miles along the length of Central America, taking in eight countries from Mexico to Colombia.

Levison, who has eaten rats, grasshoppers, sparrows and termites to survive, said his highlight of his Central America expedition was crossing the Darién Gap.

“It’s this infamous stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia,” he said.

“I’d been dreaming of going there for many years so to actually go there and cross it was incredible. Stumbling across a gang-related murder in broad daylight was quite memorable.

“That was in Honduras. It’s one of the most dangerous countries in the world and there is an average of three or four murders a day just in one city. So it didn’t come as a surprise but to see something like that was quite shocking.”

Levison also had a sobering moment when journalist Matt Power died of heatstroke when he accompanied the explorer as he walked the length of the Nile where temperatures reached 57C.

He added: “When something like that happens it really brings home the real danger. You have to accept there are risks. If there weren’t it wouldn’t be an expedition. It was a real tragedy what happened and it makes you contemplate it but if I hadn’t have carried on I think would have been doing Matt a disservice.

“I thought it was important to carry on his legacy by doing what I’m doing.”

Levison will be talking about his experiences at the Parr Hall on March 16 and reckons anyone can do what he does.

He said: “I don’t think what I do is particularly unattainable. You’ve just got to be of the right mind-set and take some risks and go for it. I take pleasure in inspiring people to follow their dreams. You don’t have to walk the Nile to have an adventure. You can do that in many ways. It’s nice to encourage people to follow their own passions.

“For me travel is also an opportunity to review my own opinions. We’re fed this media narrative that generally is all bad news. But the reality is the world is still a good place and although there’s dangers and risks people tend to look after you.

“Sudan is a country with a bad rep but actually the people there were incredible.

“They all look after you and run out of their homes with food and water even when they’ve got very little themselves.”