Paul ‘Mungo’ Mungeam, doesn’t have your average nine to five job - he spends most of his life on the other side of the world with a 15kg camera filming sights that many of us will only endeavour to see.

He might be dangling precariously out of a helicopter 50 feet above a snowy gorge to film the latest exploits of Bear Grylls or balancing on the crumbling edge of a deadly crater - and that’s just for starters.

Over the past 20 years the Tunbridge Wells raised cameraman’s work has taken him to over 90 countries and he’s worked alongside celebrity faces including Davina McCall, Freddie Flintoff, Simon Cowell and Bear Grylls. He has now launched a new book telling his story.

He’s been bitten by a crocodile, nearly attacked by giant poisonous spiders and escaped an elephant stampede - yet, in his new book Mungo: Living the Dream he says “I believe I have one of the best jobs in the world.”

Mungo admits he came into the industry by chance but has loved every exhilarating minute since.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Wandsworth, London said: “The saying, ‘it’s not what you know it’s who you know’ is so true.

"I managed to blag my way into a filming job thanks to my friend Simon Nibblet. I didn’t know my arse from my elbow to be honest so it really was a baptism of fire, but it suited me and I suited it.

"For the first 10 years of my career I took whatever was offered to me, but once I became a bit more experienced I started shooting things I loved and was interested in."

Mungo first came across Bear Grylls in a church in Pimlico, where the former SAS member was asking people to pray for him as he was preparing to climb Mount Everest - with a broken back.

Mungo was later asked to film for Bear on ‘Escape to the Legion’ in 2005, and from that point the two became close friends.

The former Hayesbrook schoolboy recently filmed Bear’s new series - Running Wild, in which celebrities, including Ben Stiller and Channing Tatum, take part in testing expeditions.

He added: "Running Wild was a great thing to shoot, Channing Tatum is a top guy - he saw Bear back-flip out of a helicopter, and he decided to do exactly the same."

The experienced cameraman can spend anywhere from a few days to four months away from home on a job. He said: “ I spend an unbelievable amount of time on aeroplanes, it sounds silly but I consider the airport my office.

"I could pretty much sleep anywhere, I’ve spent years camping in obscure locations - on volcanoes, mountains, in the jungle and even in the desert.

“I have to admit, I’m a bit of a nutter and a total adrenaline junkie so I absolutely love what I do. I wouldn't change it for the world.

”My parents travelled quite a lot so I saw the world as quite a small, accessible place. I am very fortunate to have visited all these different countries."

Despite taking part in risky stunts, Mungo has never been seriously injured on a shoot. He’s suffered two knee operations and an injury to his shoulder, but admits he is very lucky.

"My job is very physical, so I work hard to keep myself in shape and ready to shoot in any location. The camera is heavy and I'm constantly running along cliffs and mountain tops to film, so I need to be fit."

“I’m often asked what my favourite country in the world is, but it’s just impossible to choose, each place has its own beauty" - Mungo...

“I’m often asked what my favourite country in the world is, but it’s just impossible to choose, each place has its own beauty. Although I do think the jungle is a nightmare, it’s probably my least favourite place to film. I love mountains.”

Mungo travelled to Australia with TV adventurer Charley Boorman who called him an 'exceptional cameraman'. He said: "What can I say about Mungo the exceptional cameraman.

"From the minute I met him we never stopped laughing and we soon became great friends. We have travelled the world together and made some great TV shows."

In Mungo's new book, which went on sale today, Simon Cowell praised him and branded him 'one of the best cameramen I've worked with'.

Mungo: Living the Dream offers behind the scenes insights into how he has survived and thrived in the most inhospitable climates and landscapes on earth alongside A-list celebrities. It is available from Amazon and most Waterstones stores.

He will be travelling to South America in the next few months to film a new show.

For more information visit www.mungothecameraman.com or follow him on Twitter: @mungomungeam