Levison Wood's chosen walk of life

Levison Wood, the explorer, photographer and writer, who recently returned from walking the length of the river Nile, as documented in a four-part series on Channel 4, is accumulating a CV James Bond would be proud of.

“Ha, thanks,” he laughs, “I guess I just love the freedom and adventure afforded by a life on the road.”

The 33-year-old was an officer in the British Parachute Regiment, and served in Afghanistan fighting against Taliban insurgents in Helmand, Kandahar and Zabul in 2008.

His journalism took him from the streets of Baghdad in 2003 to the mountains, deserts and jungles of Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, North and South Sudan, most of Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Nepal and South East Asia.

In 2011 he spent a brief period alongside Karen rebel forces in Burma, was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and collaborated on productions with National Geographic, Animal Planet, Channel 4 and the BBC.

Nomadic tribes aside, he has also interviewed and photographed everyone from Hollywood star George Clooney to travel writer Paul Theroux.

And as the director of Secret Compass, he has led pioneering journeys into undiscovered international regions including the first ever successful walk across Madagascar, coast to coast; scientific research in Burundi, mountain climbing in Iraq, and a horse riding expedition retracing the steps of the explorers of the Great Game in search of the river Oxus.

Tracking him down is therefore understandably difficult, and I finally pin him down in Sri Lanka to discuss his appearance at the Oxford Literary Festival. So what’s he doing in Sri Lanka? “I’ve been on the beach for a week. Loved it,” he says unexpectedly. I’d have thought that would have bored him rigid? “Not at all. I also enjoy Ibiza, Greece, Spain. Everyone needs to unwind,” he says.

“But I already have another big expedition planned for later this year, although I can’t say too much about it, yet I’m afraid it does involve more walking though… ” That is a miracle in itself, considering he just completed a 4,250-mile journey from the highlands of Rwanda by foot on a journey that took 12 months.

So why does he succeed where others fail? “Well, I wouldn’t say I got off lightly. I had the tragedy of Matt dying of heat exhaustion (the American journalist was accompanying Levison for a few days during his walk through Northern Uganda) and the civil war in South Sudan meant I had to skip over the front line, so I guess even now I can’t claim to have walked every step — which is a shame, but it was the right decision for the sake of my guides and their families.”

What is it about action and adventure that Levison loves so much then?

“I was inspired by the great explorers and adventurers of days gone by — people like Livingstone, Burton, Thesiger, and pretty much made it my life work to live that dream and emulate the their example.”

And yet, before he joined the army, Levison had his sights set on Oxford.

“I failed my Oxford entry interview…” he admits.

A rare false step then, and yet maybe the one that made him? “The army made me what I am today,” he agrees. “I’d recommend it. They say it’s not for everyone, but I’d disagree.”

Levison believes his time spent there, and the training he received, set him up for life, saying: “My army experience was essential. Not just the physical skills of survival but having an understanding of risk and what to do in certain situations. In fact, I’m still in the Army Reserve, so I still do my bit when I get the chance.”

Nile explorer: Levison Wood at Murchison Falls in Uganda

Getting a desk job after he left the military was out of the question then?

“For me yes. Lots of people do, of course, but I wasn’t cut out for that. In fact, I haven’t lived in one home for longer than about nine months since I was 18.”

Instead he started his own company, Secret Compass — “organising the security and logistics for film makers in dodgy areas” — after a cameraman suggested that he pitch the idea to a TV channel. The rest is history.

Was TV the only way to facilitate his adventures? “No, TV came about completely by chance.” And are all the ideas his or does he just get sent places? “I have an idea then do it regardless, and I’ve been lucky to have the TV people bel-ieve in me. I don’t think I’d like to have a programmer suggest what I do.”

But has he ever said no because something is too dangerous? “Someone suggested I dive with sharks once, but that’s scares the hell out of me, so I didn’t,” he chuckles.

But all this travelling must play havoc with his social life?

“Yes, that comes with the job. It means I’m never in the country long enough to plan much,” he admits. “I consider big trips anything over a month, and I do those at least once a year. But then little trips — recces, photo shoots, overseas talks etc — happen at least once a month. Of course, the first few weeks are always tough trying to readjust and get used to having running water, but it makes you more appreciative.”

Levison Wood’s Walking the Nile talk
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Friday, March 27, at 2pm 
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